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1. How to Be Normal (And How to Be Strange) by cthulhusrose

   Fandoms: Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types  

   • Not Rated
   • No Archive Warnings Apply
   • M/M
   • Complete Work

   16 Apr 2026

   Tags

   • No Archive Warnings Apply
   • Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov
   • Shane Hollander
   • Ilya Rozanov
   • Autistic Shane Hollander
   • Canon Autistic Character
   • Autism
   • Ableism
   • internalized ableism
   • Loneliness
   • Self-Esteem Issues
   • Self-Hatred
   • Self-Worth Issues
   • Insecure Shane Hollander
   • Insecurity
   • Unreliable Narrator
   • Kinda
   • Ilya Rozanov Loves Shane Hollander
   • Shane Hollander Loves Ilya Rozanov
   • Sweet Ilya Rozanov
   • 5+1 Things
   • well technically 4+1 things
   • author is autistic
   • AUTHOR KNOWS BALL
   • Sad Shane Hollander
   • Shane Hollander Whump
   • Angst with a Happy Ending
   • Emotional Hurt/Comfort
   • No generative AI
   • Fuck AI
   • Post-Book 6: The Long Game (Game Changers)
   • Fluff and Angst

   Summary

   Shane spends his life trying and failing to be normal. Being different than others isolates him in ways he can't understand, until a late autism diagnosis finally gives him the vocabulary needed to explain himself and his experiences. At first, he's ashamed, but, with Ilya's help, he begins to see the aspects of himself that he spent years hating in a new, brighter light.

   OR

   4 times Shane is ashamed of his autistic traits and 1 time Ilya shows him that he doesn't have to be.

   Series

   • Part 1 of Shane Hollander Unmasked

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   3,655

   Chapters:

   1/1

   Comments:

   48

   Kudos:

   1,243

   Bookmarks:

   163

   Hits:

   9,129