Chapter Text
Rozanov isn’t sure what to expect when he walks into the locker room after the game. Harris is waiting for him, outside the locker room, “Get showered, we will talk” he says, “I’m sorry this happened to you”
He nods, he likes Harris. He trusts the man to handle whatever just happened. They’re a few weeks away from the play-offs, he’s not sure what to expect here, but he also knows his team needs him. He hopes they need him. He waits a few breaths before following his team into the locker room.
“Wedding invite, huh?” Barrett is the first one to speak up, “I guess mine must have gotten lost in the mail”
“Congrats, Cap” Hayes says, patting him on the back, “Did you know Pike was mic’d up?”
He shakes his head, and the locker room falls silent, “Whatever happens, we got you back, Roz. And Shane’s - if he needs it”
“Thank you” he says, feeling a bit choked up, “I am sorry I could not tell you all sooner - we had plan to tell everyone this summer before wedding”
He pulls out his phone, finally reading the message Shane sent him earlier, “Hayden is mic’d up - forgot to tell us” it reads. There’s three more messages after that
I guess everyone knows now
My team is not taking it well. Hayden is shielding me from most of it
I’m glad we don’t have to hide anymore.
Another message comes in after that
See you at the press conference?
He doesn’t reply, choosing to quickly shower and head out to meet Harris.
“I want to do press conference” he says before Harris can say anything, “I cannot let Shane do it alone!”
“I figured” he nods, “We have drafted a statement, I’ll send it to you to check before posting”
“Thank you” he nods.
“I will be monitoring the press conference” he says, “It seems the Montreal team isn’t doing much to keep Hollander safe from - I’m sorry”
“No - we expected this, is why we wanted to wait until summer. To force a trade if needed” he nods, “You are a good friend.”
“Good luck, Ilya” he says, leading him to the press room, “Let me know if you need help.”
Shane is already sitting at the press table, next to Hayden. They kept a chair free for him next to Shane, and he’s grateful for the chance to be close to him during this thing. He sits down, placing his hand on Shane’s thigh to calm him - and maybe to calm himself.
The mic’s aren’t turned on yet - the press is looking impatient though - and then they signal them to start asking questions.
“Hollander - is it true?” a reporter at the front asks, “Are you and Rozanov romantically involved?”
“We are” he says, there’s no use in hiding it and he doesn’t have the energy to come up with another lie - another excuse.
“Why the big secret?” someone shouts, which Shane thinks is a stupid question.
“We were waiting until my Canadian citizenship went through” Ilya picks in, “I am from Russia - did not want to take any risks. I am getting my citizenship soon and next month I will be officially Canadian”
“So you were planning to come out next month?” the same man asks.
“This summer” Hollander says.
“Hayden, why didn’t you tell your friends you were mic’d up?” a woman at the back asks him.
“I have a newborn at home and was distracted a lot - I don’t think I played my best either. I forgot” he says.
“We don’t blame Hayden” Rozanov says, “We should have been more careful. But love makes you dumb”
“How long have you two been a couple?”
“Three years this summer” Ilya says, smiling softly at Shane - he feels pride getting to say it. Three years, this man has been his for 3 years.
“Is that why you moved to Ottawa?”
“Yeah, obviously” he laughs, he can’t help it. He can see the reporters do the math - one year in Boston, the move to Ottawa, the charity.
“When did this thing start between you?” Someone else asks, and Shane looks at his fiance - a small shrug as if saying - might as well.
“Two thousand and ten” Hollander says - and the room instantly falls silent.
“Since your rookie season?” a quiet voice asks.
“Summer before” Ilya supplies, his eyes still on Shane - who is looking back at him.
“Hayden! How long have you known about Hollander and Rozanov being a couple?”
“I found out Shane was seeing Rozanov two years ago” he says, “I knew about Lily long before that”
“Who is Lily”
“Ilya’s name in my phone” Shane says, “So people wouldn’t find out!”
“Lily, Ilya - seems like an easy connection” A reporter comments.
“Well, only Pike figured it out so” Rozanov says, “Maybe not as easy as you would think”
“Rozanov - you were talking about wedding invite - are you getting married?”
“We are” he smiles widely, “Shane proposed a few weeks ago and we are getting married this summer. I am very excited”
“How are you feeling about getting outed?”
“I am less worried than I thought I would be” Hollander says, feeling Rozanov’s hand on his neck, his thumb rubbing soft circles on his skin, “It feels freeing - after hiding for so long. Whatever happens now, we will deal with it together”
“How about you, Rozanov?” the same reporter asks, “How do you feel about getting outed through a live mic’d up Hayden Pike?”
“It could’ve been worse” Ilya shrugs, Hayden looks at him with a frown, “Could’ve been outed on one of Pike’s stupid fanmail videos”