Work Text:
40,000 feet up in the air, the left engine of a plane burst into flames.
—
| VOYAGEURS | 4 |
| CAPITALS | 3 |
| FINAL・January 16, 2021 |
—
Shane’s ears were ringing, not uncommon. It’s the adrenaline crash that comes after every game, especially with a game with such high stakes as this one. Unsurprisingly, the Voyageurs still won the game in the end, and that was all that mattered.
Another victory amongst thousands of games that Shane had already played and came out victorious in the entirety of his career. Nothing special, nothing exciting.
As always, after he had already showered and dressed, he was ushered by the team’s pr agents and media managers for the post-game interview. As always, he finds himself being blinded by flashing lights and dozens of microphones ready to pick up any of his statements.
This was only part of his job—he could do this.
—
Marie was cooped up on the couch of her living room, to watch the live-stream of the Voyageurs against the Capitals. She was comfortable in her pajamas, with a Hollander jersey hoodie. She was cheering so loudly when the Voyageurs won, not that she ever thought the Caps would win.
She had to admit, the Caps were coming up close, though.
She sighed in her place, feeling her exhaustion catch up to her as the post-game interviews with Shane Hollander began. She’s already watched dozens of his interviews, but she always found his post-game analysis interesting. They were always so articulate and inquisitive.
“Shane Hollander! Washington almost caught up to Montreal. Take us through how you were able to keep your team afloat?”
Shane thought about it for a second. “Well, Washington is a great team overall, but now they’ve improved a lot—especially with their new coach, Noah Martin, who, I remember, was a former captain of the New York Admirals and retired a year before my draft— so that was exciting. What my team and I did was study the old recordings of Martin back when he was on the ice and prepared to counter similar offensive moves he had done in the past that he may have taught to the Washington team.”
“Impressive! And clearly it worked out well!”
Shane smirked quite smugly. “It did. The Caps tried their best, but they still have much to work on before they can beat us.”
Marie snorts.
She swipes her thumb across the screen to split it and read the live tweets from her oomfs on Twitter, who were watching the stream with her.
Its Felyyy @felonynotfelicity
His smirk is driving me crazy! My mouth is watering because he knows he’s just THAT good!
↳ PatME Lupone @hattricksforpatrick
I love me a cocky man who can back it up with ✨competency✨!
Marie giggled, typing out her reply while the interview carried on.
Its Felyyy @felonynotfelicity
His smirk is driving me crazy! My mouth is watering because he knows he’s just THAT good!
↳ PatME Lupone @hattricksforpatrick
I love me a cocky man who can back it up with ✨competency✨!
↳ Mere Marie @hollandercanpuckmeup
NO CAP BUT I LOVE THE ROZANOV EFFECT ON HIM
She turned her attention back to the stream.
”—the difficult points during the game?”
Shane rolls his head, the water from his still-wet hair rolling down his neck.
She bit her lip. Her timeline kept reloading so fast, she knew Twitter was probably going crazy from that neck roll. She was already typing out a thirst tweet.
Shane moves closer to one of the microphones pointed at him. “I believe, even though my team did well and won this game, we still need to improve our timing and coordination. As you’ve noticed, Jacob retired unexpectedly due to an injury, and our new rook, Mike, stepped in to take his place. It’s still a big adjustment, and we are still acclimating to it. It’s still a few months before the playoffs, I know we’ll get there in time.”
“Well said, Mr. Hollander.”
Marie nods, agreeing with Shane’s statement. They were still not at their best, but the fact that they performed so well despite all these setbacks was admirable. It was all due to Shane Hollander’s leadership that they all made it this far.
“Shane, les Washington Capitals ont remporté la première confrontation. Que se passait-il?" "Shane, The Washington Capitols won the first faceoff. What was happening?"Shane smiles, looking away from the cameras. "Je testais leur vitesse. Comme vous pouvez le voir, ils ont perdu les prochains face-offs contre nous.” Shane smiles, looking away from the cameras. "I was testing their speed. As you can see, they lost the next few faceoffs against us."
The other occupants in the room burst out into laughter.
She presses post.
Mere Marie @hollandercanpuckmeup
his french drives me crazy!
Marie was just about to send another thirst tweet just as her phone vibrated once more. Notifications of people replying to one of her comments.
Its Felyyy @felonynotfelicity
His smirk is driving me crazy! My mouth is watering because he knows he’s just THAT good!
↳ PatME Lupone @hattricksforpatrick
I love me a cocky man who can back it up with ✨competency✨!
↳ Mere Marie @hollandercanpuckmeup
NO CAP BUT I LOVE THE ROZANOV EFFECT ON HIM
↳ Ilya and Gogy’s Wife @rozanov404
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT ILYA?
↳ Holla Soy Dora @hollypocket
GIRL CHECK THE NEWS!
Marie furrowed her brows at the replies.
She looked at the trending tags on Twitter, many of them about the Ottawa Centaurs and Ilya Rozanov, rather than the Voyageurs and Shane Hollander. Even several of her oomfs are posting under the tag.
As far as she knows, the Centaurs don’t have a game yet, so what are these people talking about?
Its Felyyy @felonynotfelicity
His smirk is driving me crazy! My mouth is watering because he knows he’s just THAT good!
↳ PatME Lupone @hattricksforpatrick
I love me a cocky man who can back it up with ✨competency✨!
↳ Mere Marie @hollandercanpuckmeup
NO CAP BUT I LOVE THE ROZANOV EFFECT ON HIM
↳ Ilya and Gogy’s Wife @rozanov404
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT ILYA?
↳ Holla Soy Dora @hollypocket
GIRL CHECK THE NEWS!
↳ Its Felyyy @felonynotfelicity
bestie read this article… https://www.nytimes.com/dyNxCVyq
Clicking the link, she nearly drops her phone in shock when she reads the headlines, in bold font.
Ottawa Centaurs Plane Engine Caught on Fire
Flight 0876, the Ottawa Centaurs plane’s engine caught on fire while on the team’s flight back home from New York. It was reported that the aircraft had briefly lost communications with the ATC before it was scheduled to land at the Tampa Bay Airport.
There have been no recorded passenger deaths, it has been disclosed by a stewardess on the flight that many of the Ottawa Centaurs require medical assistance, some, reported to be in critical condition, specifically those who sat close to the wing area.
Click to See More
“What the fuck!?” Marie finally manages to scream, scrambling up from her couch, reading more of the article. Her heart dropped to the pits of her stomach as several paragraphs underlined that the one in critical condition is a vital member of the team.
Which implies it’s either a coach or a captain.
No wonder people kept bringing up Ilya’s name on Twitter!
Right as she was writing another post for Twitter, the post-game interview was still ongoing.
“Shane, avez-vous entendu des mises à jour ou des nouvelles concernant l'ottawa dernièrement?" "Shane, have you heard any updates or news about the ottawa lately?"Shane looked confused.
“What are you talking about? Aren’t they on a flight back to Ottawa?”
He turns to another reporter who called his name.“Shane! As of 8 in the morning, the Ottawa Centaurs' plane engine caught on fire. Do you have anything to say about that?”
From the screen, Shane looked panicked, his face rapidly paling at the news.
“Th-They… What!?”
—
“Th-They… What!? What are you guys talking about!?” Shane flinches, ducking and covering his head from the sudden onslaught of even more flashing lights. They were blinding. They were suffocating him.
Even more microphones were shoved towards his face.
“Wait! I can’t see! Back up!” Shane pushes against the people surrounding him. He looks up, staring at the reporter right in front of him with widened eyes. “What do you mean the Ottawa Centaurs' plane caught on fire!?”
The reporter suddenly looked nervous.
“The engine of the Ottawa Centaurs plane caught on fire… Th-They had to make an emergency landing in T-Tampa Bay?”
“Is that a question or is that an answer?”
“B-Both?”
Shane huffs in frustration.
“Were any of them injured then!?”
Another reporter stepped in for that question.
“Mr. Shane Hollander, Sir. None have died, but many were injured. Those nearest to the left wing side, where the engine was, are reported to be in critical condition.” He tells him.
Left wing side. Critical condition.
“Ilya.” Shane whispers, a broken expression on his face. Ilya always sat on the left wing side of the plane. He’d always fight for that seat assignment as much as he could. A superstition of good luck, he said.
What good fucking luck that is.
Shane’s heart was pounding violently against his chest. It was like a bass drum, whose beat traveled through the floor and walls. It overwhelms the ringing in his ears. Consumes him. It is consuming him.
Why is it suddenly so hard to breathe?
Why is his chest hurting?
From the corner of his vision, he could spot Hayden and J.J. already pushing past the ever-growing crowd, demanding his reply.
“Oh god. Oh god! OH, GOD!” Shane’s hands were already at his head, pulling at his hair. “Oh fuck! Ilya!” His breaths became quicker and quicker.
In front of him, the reporters lurched on him like vultures, more pictures of him were being taken, more microphones. So many people want to make a profit out of his vulnerable moment.
“What about Ilya Rozanov, Shane?”
“Shane! Shane! Êtes-vous inquiet pour votre partenaire à cause de la Irina Foundation?" "Shane! Shane! Are you worried about your partner because of the Irina Foundation?"
“Are you relieved that the Ottawa Centaurs might not play against the Voyageurs in the playoffs?”
Shane’s head snapped up, his face contorting into an ugly expression of rage. Something completely unexpected from someone perceived by the general public as “stoic” and “robot-like”.
“Does this fucking look like relief to you!?” He spits at that reporter, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white, and his nails were digging deep in his palms. “People could have DIED on that plane! You all said it yourself that some people are in critical condition, and you dare ask me if I’m relieved!? This is a fucking sport! A job! Not a fucking war! Do any of you guys even have a sense of fucking decency!?”
Shane could feel hands grabbing his arms, stopping him from lunging at one of the people holding a microphone.
“There’s sportsmanship, and then there is whatever the fuck this is! How can you even fucking call yourselves human!?” He screeches.
“Hollander! Why Rozanov specifically? Out of everyone else in the Centaurs?”
Shane was pushed behind someone, and it took him a few seconds to realize that Hayden was blocking him from the public view.
“Why can’t Shane worry about someone he’s worked closely alongside with for many years? It pains me to say this, but Rozanov and Shane have grown close.” Hayden turns around, just a bit to meet Shane’s eyes. “Shane just found out one of his friends could have died. Would you all be treating him like this if it were me on that plane!?”
Shane feels his knees buckle, but J.J. keeps him steady.
Hayden was still talking to the media whilst J.J. held on to him.
“Shane, calm down. Breath.”
Shane shudders, tears streaming down his face like floodgates had opened. “Get me out of here. I need to see Ilya.”
“What?” J.J. moves closer to him. “Ilya? Capitaine, you’re not making sense right now. They’re still in Tampa.”
Shane shakes his head. “No… You don’t get it! I—” Shane lurches forward, a round of vertigo washing over him in waves. Inside him, he was grasping on tightly to the careful control and restraint that would keep him from tipping over the edge.
Just one more… One more statement, and Shane might actually punch someone.
“Hey! Hey, guys! Leave Shane alone!” Hayden gets pushed by the crowd, and even the PR managers are being barricaded by the crowd from reaching J.J. and Shane.
“Leave us alone!” J.J. had his arms outstretched forward. Shane was almost completely dissociated in his arms.
—
Pat was watching the TV from his dining table, watching all the chaos unfold.
As someone who works in Lifestyle Entertainment, what’s happening on screen, live, was a living PR nightmare.
Shane Hollander is clearly dissociated right now, and yet the reporters and media continued to push and harass not only him but also J.J. and Hayden. He even watched as a reporter with a large, athletic build roughly pushed aside Hayden.
It was a bloodbath without the blood.
He just wanted to watch the game and binge-eat as much as he could before he spent the next 16 hours working behind the scenes on a new advertisement for Calvin Klein, without a single water or food break.
Instead, his blood pressure is rising, and he’s feeling prod stress when he isn’t even part of this particular dog show.
He takes out his phone to check Twitter.
PatME Lupone @hattricksforpatrick
Ya’ll… this is NOT NORMAL. HE’S LITERALLY CRYING ON CAMERA AND THEY WON’T STOP!
↳ PatME Lupone @hattricksforpatrick
What the fuck is going on there!? Why are they harassing Shane for answers when he’s clearly not doing well at all?
↳ Pike’s Missing Puck @puckmeharder
no fr why are they doing that this is hella fucked up
↳ Its Felyyy @felonynotfelicity
I feel so uncomfortable.
↳ Ilya and Gogy’s Wife @rozanov404
this isn’t gonna end well…
↳ LAMPY! @lampyhatake
cant believe im agreeing with a dream stan
↳ Ilya and Gogy’s Wife @rozanov404
i only stan gogy
↳ LAMPY! @lampyhatake
dude hes associated with dream either way
↳ Mere Marie @hollandercanpuckmeup
Pat… you’re in the entertainment business. What do you think is happening here?
↳ PatME Lupone @hattricksforpatrick
Marie, dear, I don’t even want to say anything. I’m speechless. This is completely barbaric, and I work around celebrities! 1/2
↳ PatME Lupone @hattricksforpatrick
Shane Hollander is only an athlete, yet the media hounds him like he’s an A-list celebrity. He has every right to get triggered and lose it on screen, I’m telling you. 2/2
↳ Mere Marie @hollandercanpuckmeup
Oh fuck… a triggered Shane
↳ PatME Lupone @hattricksforpatrick
He has every right to have a mental breakdown. He’s already having one. Just wait til he gets violent.
Whatever is going on in that TV—Pat shudders—he hopes it won't happen to him or any of the celebrities he is in charge of in the coming future. He hopes not, otherwise he might need to be rushed to the ED for alcohol poisoning, which he does not have the budget or insurance for, whilst staying in the United States for work.
This is… just terrible.
When the term “media vultures” rose, this is exactly what they meant. The media are scavengers picking off any scrap they could consume and twist, and shit out like filth. And now they’re doing that to Shane.
Pat bets that their mouths are watering just on the thought of how much they could twist to get a hit article out of him. Out of this extremely private athlete who had become well known from his insane talent and sportsmanship, his past relationship with Rose Landry, and his successful modeling career.
He knows that they’re looking to break past what Shane willingly shares and purposely hides from that.
PatME Lupone @hattricksforpatrick
This is the type of shit that killed Princess Diana.
↳ Broke Hermes @ionlyhavebagskates
As someone who lived through that time, it feels like I’m reliving it.
↳ Holla Soy Dora @hollypocket
This is a scary analogy…
↳ Shayden Is Real @ShaydenPikeander
watch Hayden protect Princess Shane like a knight in shining armour!
↳ Pike’s Missing Puck @puckmeharder
now is NOT the time to act like this what the hell is wrong with you
↳ Shayden Is Real @ShaydenPikeander
i’m just saying what i’m seeing right before my eyes
↳ K-KACCHAN! @bakudekuambassador
No, seriously, what the hell is going on? I’m cheating on my current fandom because WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING ON SPORTSNET
↳ Misa Hollanova @thesecretdaughter
OMFG this even reached MHA Twitter
Pat put his phone down, sighing deeply. He’s supposed to be ready by now, he’s supposed to leave in 30 minutes, and yet here he is, knee-deep, and greatly invested in the events happening right before him right now.
It’s not even a good kind of investment. He just wants to see, for the first time in his life, if Shane would snap. He already did, earlier, but he wonders if the reason why Shane immediately went out of it was that he needed to reel himself in. God knows Pat has done that plenty of times just to keep his job in the industry.
He reaches for the vape on his dining table and took a hit.
“Fuck off! All of you! Can’t you see Shane doesn’t want to answer your damn questions!? Leave him alone!” Out of view, Hayden Pike’s voice was heard.
The camera panned down to Shane, where tears were streaming down his already blank eyes. The only thing separating Shane from the horde of microphones was J.J.
“You must be grateful that Rozanov might be one of the people in critical condition.” People laughed. They laughed. Some of his teammates, the reporters, mostly everyone except J.J. and Hayden.
Shane blinked slowly, eyes moving up. “Who said that?” He asked, looking around. “Who fucking said that!?
“Me!”
The camera suddenly blurred out of focus when Shane lunged in the direction of that particular reporter, out of J.J.’s arms. J.J., himself, looked so surprised at the sudden violent outburst.
Pat choked on his smoke, literally. He watched the screen, agape, as Shane’s fists went flying, attacking the reporter in a fit of rage. He felt like he was clutching his pearls, and strangely, he also felt strangely aroused? Is this what Veronica Sawyer felt like when she watched J.D. fight for the first time?
“Holy shit…”
His phone was vibrating from the sheer wave of notifications, not just on his Twitter, but also through his text messages.
—
Shane doesn’t know what came over him. It was as if something possessed him. Something was taking control over him, guiding his fists to this man’s face and body. It was unnatural, almost inhumane. Shane does not recognize the person taking control.
He’s just so… so furious. His veins burn with the heat of a thousand suns, all fueled by hatred he never knew he had. All of it, directed at someone who only asked a question with a little malicious intent, who asked an invasive, insensitive question.
And yet for some, Shane couldn't care less about that.
The man underneath him wasn’t fighting back— he was just blocking his hits.
His efforts are futile when Shane Hollander is a 5’11, muscular athlete, carrying over 200 pounds of pure muscle.
The crowd was roaring, and more cameras were flashing, wishing to capture this very moment, likely the downfall of Shane Hollander.
From a young age, Shane knew that if he wanted to be successful, there are many things he must give up and sacrifice to do so. Shane also knew that for him to stay successful, he must learn to be better, if not the best, to be treated with the same respect as his fellow athletes who are not like him.
In fact, for the longest time, there was no one like Shane in the world of hockey at all. He was always the only asian boy. Too asian for the league’s taste, but far too talented to let go.
Shane had experienced it all.
So he had to suck it all up and be perfect, so that the league knows without a doubt that Shane is right where he belongs. He’d ignore every slur, every piece of aggression, and profanity directed at him. He’ll ignore it because he has no other options otherwise.
The moment he came out as gay to his team, he knew what they were doing to him. They were slowly but surely phasing him out, prioritizing him less. The locker room energy had also changed—his teammates acknowledged him less unless he scored a goal. In truth, Shane expected that, but he still kept going.
But lately, Shane had been feeling pent up, like he was about to burst. He had spent 10 years in this industry, and now it’s wearing him thin. Shane knew it was only a matter of time before shit hits the fan—he had just been deluding himself that he could stay in this team until he retired.
No, Shane can not, and he couldn't care less if the Voyageurs fire him for this. Fuck it all. What good is hockey without Ilya? And they all laughed.
Two pairs of arms were pulling him off the already beaten-up reporter, but Shane continued to wriggle himself around, resorting to using his legs to kick the man.
“Let me go! Let me fucking at him! I’m not yet done with that asshole!” Shane screams.
“Shane! Stop kicking the man! He’s already down!”
“Capitaine, save that strength for the game, not the media!”
“It was a bad question, buddy, but remember you’re so much stronger and bigger than the guy!”
“Yeah, it’s an extreme power imbalance happening here!”
Shane shakes his head. “I could give less of a fuck if I’m stronger or not! He talks shit about my husband, my fists will come right at him! AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO FUCKING LAUGHED!”
The room fell silent in disbelief.
The only noise was Shane’s angry huffs and the pained groans of a reporter who was already being tended to by the medical staff of the arena.
Hayden breaks the silence with a horrified screech. “YOUR HUSBAND!? YOU GOT MARRIED TO THAT ASSHOLE!? WHEN!? WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL OR INVITE ME!?”
Shane’s head whipped around to direct a murderous glare at Hayden.
“You… what!?”
J.J., betrayed, traumatized, and mentally aged 40 years, looked directly at the main camera of the live stream. They should have stopped filming earlier, the moment Shane started to break his perfectly curated mask—instead, they continued to keep recording.
“Cut the fucking cameras already!” He yells.
—
5.2k
r/MontrealVoyageursFans · Posted by u/AnnaleighSports 1 hour ago.
Bjork Shane is absolutely not in the wrong and I’ll stand by that opinion until the day i die
Discussion
I know this community will be and probably already is divided over whatever the hell we had just witnessed on screen, but can I just put this forward? I truly believe that Shane had been needing to snap like that for the longest time. Like for fucks sake, we already have discussed about the possibility and likely fact that Shane is not treated as well by the team as they try to make us believe. Hockey is not a… safe place for people who are gay, even after all the progress that Scott Hunter made in this sport. So let’s add his shocking (is it truly shocking?) homosexuality and the fact that he is Japanese-Canadian. Montreal has already had a history of racism in the past and we can’t deny that. I can’t deny it. I’VE BEEN LIVING IN THIS CITY FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS. Imagine years (assuming it's been years since they’re literally MARRIED!) of hiding who you are and who you love, for safety, and one unfortunately tragic event occurs to your secret lover and someone asks you if you’re happy they’re potentially injured? Wouldn’t that fuck you up? MIND YOU, ILYA ROZANOV IS RUSSIAN, SO THEY KEPT IT SECRET AS WELL BECAUSE ILYA COULD’VE BEEN ARRESTED OR SOMETHING WORSE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO HIM. Shane absolutely had the right to punch that reporter bjork style! That’s his HUSBAND they were talking about! Shane deserves to finally express how he truly feels! He deserves to take off that PR persona! Shane only knows as much details about the crash as the rest of the world do, so I am truly siding with him.
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—
Shane was sobbing on the locker room bench, punching his chest because he couldn’t seem to breathe. His phone was right beside him on the bench, open on his Instagram messages, and right there were Ilya’s private messages to him. These would be the last words if the plane had truly crashed.
Ilya Rozanov ☑️
Ilya
You are the best thing in my life.
I love you. Always. Maybe from the first time I saw you.
I am thinking only about you right now. A million memories. Thank you for those.
Whatever happens, I am with you. Safe in your heart. I believe it.
Hayden was right beside him, holding a roll of tissue paper, while J.J. was pacing around, processing the events that had just unfolded a few minutes ago.
Many of the Voyageurs were also there, as management had instructed them to stay there until the issue with the media was all sorted out. It was awkward, it was tense, and many are furious at Shane. Many were already not comfortable with the fact that he was gay, but his being married to Ilya Rozanov unlocked a whole other round of issues that Shane is ill-prepared for in normal circumstances.
“Fuck! I don’t even have any updates on him!” Shane shouts, head to his knees. “I can’t stop fucking crying! Somebody fucking sedate me!”
Hayden grimaced, ripping out another tissue paper for Shane to wipe his tears and snort on.
From behind, a teammate not-so-quietly whispered to another, “Bro, our captain’s a pansy.”
“He won’t be our captain anytime soon after what happened.”
“And I fucking hate this! My husband—”
J.J. faces Shane. “Yes! Let’s fucking talk about your husband, Capitaine. I thought Rozanov was the enemy, eh? I thought you just had an… let’s say, unrequited crush on him. But then you tell me you’ve been together that long that you two are married?”
Shane narrowed his eyes at him. “It was none of your business.”
“Bullshit—”
“Guys!”
They both quiet down at Hayden’s call, leaving Shane to sniff once more.
Hayden sighs, patting Shane’s back. “Why didn’t you tell Jackie and me? Or invite us at all? The kids would be heartbroken, dude.”
J.J. took a deep breath. “You’re part of the problem, Pike! It’s very clear to me you fucking knew about them and kept it from the team!” He points at Hayden.
“That wasn’t my secret to tell, Boiziau! Shane—”
Shane punches the bench, interrupting what would’ve escalated into a violent screaming match. “We had a plan, damn it! I even had it on a fucking Excel sheet! We were doing so well, keeping it hidden until after we retire, we planned to only tell people privately about it on a nice, fancy dinner once all the documents were sorted out, and then the fucking plane— and the damn reporter— FUCK! I only got married to Ilya for 2 months! What if the plane situation was even worse and I lost him!?” He sniffs into the tissue.
“Two months!?” Everyone in the locker room repeated.
“Yes! Two months!” Shane wails. “The baby Pikes arranged it, made us wear little tiny plastic rings that don’t even fit our fingers, Ruby and Jade officiated it. Amber was the flower girl, Arthur the ring bearer. After that, Ilya and I just went to the courthouse the next day to make it official… Fuck… I think I want a baby…” Shane wiped off another round of tears from his face.
Hayden offers him another piece of tissue paper.
Comeau scoffs from the wall he was leaning on. “A traitor is still a damn traitor. The same way a faggot is still a fucking faggot. Calisse, I can’t believe you’re the one leading the team. You embarrass us all!”
Shane tenses up.
“Quit that, Gil!” A rookie elbows him. “You saw what he did to that one guy—”
“Tabarnak, this faggot acts like a girl, will fight like a girl when against a real man.” Comeau cracks his knuckles. “I bet he threw some games just to be bitched!”
The locker room got louder, some loudly voicing their agreements, some heads nodding along, others just looking away.
Hayden was about to stand up to defend Shane, only for Shane to grip his shirt tightly, keeping him in place.
“May I remind you who led the team to three Stanley Cup wins?” Shane whispers, but it shuts up the room really fast.
He wipes his eyes and straightens himself up, but he does not move to face the people in the room.
“You may say all you want about me, Gil, but you know I’m the best player in this fucking room. No one can fucking deny that, even after the many times you all tried to get me off the ice.” Shane begins.
Some feet were shuffling, uncomfortable, exposed.
“I aimed to be the best, and I proved to be the best. My complete list of athletic achievements and awards I won is nothing to laugh at. I have more achievements than you— I have more achievements than anyone in the team has made so far. Sabotage me, go ahead, my resume is still 18 pages long. Call me a faggot, call me a girl, I could fucking care less. We all know who’s the better player here. It certainly isn’t you.”
Shane rubs his hands on his knees to regain more feeling in them after staying hunched for an uncomfortable amount of time.
“None of you guys will fully understand why I chose Ilya, the same way none of you guys will ever know what it feels like to be on my skill level.” Some people made voices of outrage, but Shane kept going. “If you’re curious about Ilya and me and how long we’ve “lied” to everyone, I’d tell you all it was the summer before rookie season, but none of you are ready for that conversation yet, huh? I don’t think you’ll ever will.”
“Rookie season?”
“The summer before?”
The locker room door opened, and everyone turned to see who it was.
It was Theriault.
“Hollander, you’re being called.” He says, before slamming the door shut.
Shane stands up, ignoring the worried looks of Hayden and J.J.
“By now, I’m sure I won’t stay in Montreal for much longer. And even if they still kept me, I don’t think I wish to stay here any longer. Not like this. Not if I have to pretend that I am not completely and madly in love with Ilya Rozanov. I will not go back to hiding anymore. Russia is no longer an issue, and Scott Hunter has helped pave the way for people like Ilya and me.” Shane says.
J.J. moved away from Shane when he went to grab his duffel bag, not to avoid him, but to give him space.
“Truth is, none of you have met a version of Shane Hollander who wasn’t in love with Ilya Rozanov.”
Shane leaves the room.
—
sinsinati @hollanovismylife
I can’t even celebrate this guys… Shane confirmed Hollanov but only because he needed to defend himself from the media 🙁
↳ Shayden Is Real @ShaydenPikeander
Ya’ll won nothing!
↳ Pretzella @respectgoaltenders
can you literally shut the fuck up. now is not the fucking time.
↳ Shayden Is Real @ShaydenPikeander
Awwww? Is someone angwy? 😏
↳ Shayden Is Real @ShaydenPikeander
I GOT BLOCKED LMFAO
↳ celine estrogen @tododokidoki
Imagine how long they’ve been HIDING this. Some people say they got together in All Stars. I beg to differ. I think they started before their rookie seasons.
↳ Shane’s True First Time @shanespinkdildo
I tried to ignore this, but I can’t. Because you’re SO FUCKING RIGHT.
↳ The AssHollandery @hollanderzoolander
no cap this changed the trajectory of my life imagine 17 year old ilya and shane falling in love but spending years trying to keep it secret
↳ sinsinati @hollanovismylife
This comment brought tears to my eyes. I wonder how Ilyuca81 is reacting to this news…
↳ Shane’s True First Time @shanespinkdildo
Oh my god, Ilyuca81… I miss him so much, man. I wonder how he’s doing.
↳ Mere Marie @hollandercanpuckmeup
Probably having the best time of his life, winning hockey games…
↳ Pike’s Missing Puck @puckmeharder
OH MY GOD ILYUCA81 IS DEAD?
↳ The AssHollandery @hollanderzoolander
NO
↳ sinsinati @hollanovismylife
NO
↳ Shane’s True First Time @shanespinkdildo
NO
Sera was not having a good time. Truth is, she’s actually going through a terrible time. She spent so many years shipping Ilya and Shane together, praying that she was right, praying for signs. But now that she got he confirmation, she wants nothing to do with it.
Not like this.
Not when it took an almost fatal crash for the words to spill out of a usually private and reserved person like Shane Hollander.
She understands why they could’ve kept it secret. Ilya is Russian, and Russia is not a safe place for people who are homosexual, especially a public figure like him. Not only that, hockey truly isn’t a safe place for people who aren’t straight white men. At least not yet.
She has dabbled in forbidden romances.
Her ex-girlfriend was muslim. Ayla was so beautiful, so kind, and yet… She knew how dangerous it was—they both knew the risks, and yet they risked it all until they were caught, and Ayla was taken away from her.
Sera mourns what could have been. And looking at Shane and Ilya, she always saw the bond she had with Ayla in them, through their longing and yearning stares that they give each other that they think nobody would notice.
But she did.
Many people who were like them saw it, shipped it, supported it. They created a community out of this and found a safe space with one another.
For many years, she prayed that Ilya and Shane would find the community and find the bravery to come out as themselves, if not as a couple. And now… it happened, but not the way anyone in the community wanted.
With how Shane had come out, if you can even call it a coming out, things would certainly be much more dangerous and difficult for him. People on the internet can only do so much to help and support someone whose social media accounts are managed by other people.
That’s why they put most of their hope on Ilya Rozanov, who is… currently offline, with no status report, even after 2 hours.
God, she hopes he’s alright.
She hopes he wasn’t one of the critically injured passengers.
sinsinati @hollanovismylife
Does anyone know which side of the plane Ilya usually sits in?
↳ La Luna Sangre @SangreSangria
The left side, if I remember correctly
↳ sinsinati @hollanovismylife
… fuck.
Sera shuts her phone and pinches the bridge of her nose. This really wasn’t good. And the lack of updates on Ilya Rozanov when the status of the other members of the Centaurs is out is already terrifying.
She turns to the altar in her home, adorned with crosses, rosaries, and saints, and she prays. Prays for the Ottawa Centaurs team, prays for Shane Hollander’s husband, prays that those who have been injured, Centaur or not, recover smoothly.
That’s all she can do for now.
—
Ilya Rozanov, Reported to Not Be on the Plane at All
Flight 0876, the Ottawa Centaurs plane’s engine caught on fire while on the team’s flight back home from New York. Insider reports state that Ilya Rozanov never boarded the flight homebound, but has opted to take another aircraft to an unknown location. Rozanov was last seen in the JFK International Airport buying tickets, separate from the Ottawa Centaurs.
As of 12:00 nn, there is yet to be a status report of Ilya Rozanov anywhere. No one has seen him since the Ticketing Office. No one has information on where he went and which plane he is on. Harris Drover, the Social Media Manager of the Ottawa Centaurs, claims that though the team has no idea of Ilya Rozanov’s whereabouts, he assures that Ilya Rozanov is alive and well. It just so happens that he is not with them.
Where could Ilya Rozanov be? Where is he hiding? Could this disappearance be related to a Montreal Voyageurs home game media disaster?
Click to See More
—
Shane slams the car door shut.
He was fired. Mid-season. The Commissioner wants to meet with him one of these days, likely to threaten him.
That’s alright, Shane couldn't care less.
Good riddance, Montreal never deserved him anyway. They only loved him when he’d win games, and then they’d subject him to so much abuse and hazing if they didn’t win, and place all the blame on him. They just nuked their chances of winning another Cup. They’ll never win another Stanley Cup without Shane.
There were plenty of other teams that would kill to have him on their team, treat him better, respect him without conditions. Shane is quite sure the New York Admirals are one of them, but Shane doesn’t want to be an Admiral. Shane does not want to be in any other team, except…
Except Ottawa.
After getting a taste of what it’d feel like to play with Ilya as a teammate, Shane always wanted to give it another try. They worked so well together, they moved as one, and the East Boys had taken notice. The world had taken notice, and they were feared for it.
Shane wants to feel that thrill again. Shane wants to be kissed after winning a game again by the one he loves. Only this time, the world will know that kiss goes beyond just camaraderie.
He knows Ilya is alright. He could feel it.
Once Shane got his shit together and started to think rationally, he realized that if there was no status report of Ilya, it could mean only one thing. Ilya was never on the plane, and his husband is alive. Just hiding from the media, especially with Shane’s recent fuck up.
There is a lot they need to discuss as a couple, but with how Ilya had been begging to come out lately, he just knows that Ilya truly wouldn’t mind an accidental blurt from a moment of worry and panic. Ilya knows him. He wouldn’t put that against him.
And despite all that, Shane just wants Ilya’s touch, Ilya’s embrace. He wants to be comforted and feel loved, so intimately and gently, in ways no other person in the world can. He wants the other half of his soul to be here with him right now.
With a soul so exhausted and weary, even when it is only one in the afternoon, he drives tiredly to his Montreal Condo, his place of residency for almost a decade. Renovated, refurbished, improved, but still the same place he’s called “home”.
It won’t be much of a home now if he’s not playing for Montreal anymore.
When Shane arrives, he parks his car and immediately rushes up the condominium building staircase, avoiding the people in the lobby, who are, without a doubt, waiting to overwhelm and harass him like they have done many times before.
Once Shane made it to his unit, he found himself surprised to find the door already unlocked.
“Are you fucking kidding me!?” Shane shouts, frustrated. He slams the door open, looking frustratedly at a grinning Russian asshole who was disguised in a long blonde wig, a white mask, and an extremely bright red Adidas tracksuit. “How many times did I fucking tell you not to leave my door unlocked every time you come and visit!”
Ilya chuckles, taking off the wig and mask, and walking towards Shane.
“Hello, moy lyubov. I saw the interview.” Ilya snickers. “You looked so pretty, beating that reporter. Are you trying to… ah… imitate Björk? Punching reporters?”
Shane rolls his eyes, scoffing, punching Ilya’s bicep, making the Russian wince. “You worried me. If you weren’t on the plane, why did you send me that fucking message, asshole!”
“I was, though...? I just sent you the message because my phone was dying and I didn't know what's happening.” Ilya tilts his head.
Now, Shane was confused.
“You were?”
“Yes, I was just placed in the back of the plane due to a website booking glitch. I was wearing this outfit because I lost a bet, but it became a good disguise, though.” Ilya shakes his head.
“A… A bet!?” Shane snorts, covering his mouth. “How did you come here, then?”
“I rushed to book a flight from Tampa to Montreal. I was the last to enter the flight before take off, but it was enough time for me to come here before you did. No one recognized me.” Ilya chuckles once more, pressing a kiss on Shane’s forehead.
Shane sniffs. “You could have stayed in Tampa, used your teammates’ phones to message me.” He turns away for a second.
“I could have,” Ilya agrees. “But I knew you needed me to be with you, so I came as fast as I could.”
A tear finally slips out of Shane’s eyes.
Ilya wiped it off right away.
“Nooo, don’t cry, moy pomidor.” Ilya soothes him, Shane tries to look away, but Ilya grabs his chin ever so gently. “Look at me, Shane.”
“I ruined our plan, Ilya.” Shane sniffs, voice low. “I’m sorry.”
Ilya kisses him. It was short, it was sweet, and it was enough to ease most of his anxieties away. They took a moment to breathe before kissing each other again. And again. And again.
“You ruined nothing, Shane. You felt so many big things that you just had to say something. That’s alright.” Ilya finally embraces him, and Shane relaxes in his arms.
“I’m sorry about Troy.”
“Troy is a big boy. He will recover from his broken ribs.” Ilya says.
“I got kicked out of the Voyageurs…” Shane mumbles on Ilya’s shoulders.
Ilya tightened his hold on Shane. “They didn’t deserve you.”
“I know, but I still feel bad. What do I do now?” Shane sighs, looking up at Ilya.
“Well… there is an opening in Ottawa. You won’t receive the same amount of money as you once did in Montreal, but if you trade mid-season… You get to play with me. We get to be together, all the time.” Ilya says.
Shane feels his heartbeat quicken.
“I was thinking the same thing earlier…”
Ilya’s lips press against Shane’s once again.
“Then you know it’s fate,” he tells Shane.
More tears stream down Shane’s face, no longer out of stress or sadness, but relief.
“I love you so fucking much, Ilya. I’m sorry if I don’t say it as much.”
“We’re married, moy lyubov. We have so many opportunities to say “I love you” to each other.”
Ilya nuzzles his nose into Shane’s hair and inhales, deep, smelling the scent of sweat mixed with shampoo.
“I love you too, Shane. Ya tozhe tebya lyublyu.”
squirveysquirt1 hour ago
I totally understand what you mean, but also does it really have to be Rozanov of all people? I probably wouldn’t have minded as much if it were any OTHER hockey players, but his rival???
bianxablox52 mins ago
exactly! how do we know he didnt throw a game???
kikimian41 mins ago
hollander would kill himself before hed purposely lose to rozanov husband or not
bradsports 1 hour ago
I’m sick of seeing these fucking faggots ruin hockey! They want to act like girls? The pwhl is right there with open fucking arms! I wasted so much time supporting this fucking fairy! Now here I am, wasting time again!
holyshitakemushroomie59 mins ago
Sexism? Homophobia? No one fucking asked you to fucking waste more of your time commenting this shit.
halebaileyswife55 mins ago
guys like you are the ones ruining hockey, not us.