Chapter Text
The locker room is lively before practice, the team talking about what they got up to recently or what drills they want to run today. Shane bends down to tie his laces methodically before sitting up, taking off the hard guards and turning to Ilya - who is taping his stick. Shane looks at Ilya quietly for a moment.
"Are you okay Shane?"
"Y-yeah.... why?"
"You are looking very seriously at me."
"Its just, your hair looks so good today. Like- really good. That new shampoo is doing something, I know you don't see it but it definitely is making a difference."
Ilya blushes with a slight smile as Shane reaches out to twirl one of his curls with a gentle finger.
"And you say that Russians don't blush." Shane leans in close, murmuring in Russian so no one else understands.
"You look nice when you blush. Makes you look- cute."
Shane pulls away as he grabs his helmet, smiling and slightly embarrassed from being so worked up over complimenting his husband. Ilya however, will be thinking about that for the rest of practice. He shakes his head with a grin before grabbing his own helmet, following everyone else out onto the ice.
Coach Wiebe is off today due to all of his children getting ill, so Ilya and Bood are quick to take over practice - but they end up just letting people do their own drills. Ilya goes to Shane, asking him for techniques with skating backwards. Although he doesn't need to skate backwards as much as Dykstra and Chouinard because of their positions as defence, he wants to be more confident. Shane agrees happily, heading to the other end of the rink to practice.
"Put your other ankle in more- yeah. You're doing really well."
"Ah- it is always so awkward for me, my legs do not like being moved like this."
"There you go, that was much faster. You're doing amazing Ilya."
Ilya smiles and blushes at the praise, moving in front of him so their skates touch. He leans in for a kiss, which Shane quickly gives to him. They giggle before tapping their helmets together twice and skating over to the rest of the team.
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By the time practice ends, Ilya is absolutely exhausted. He stayed up all night playing Rocket League with Hayden, and Shane - although wanting him to sleep - couldn't bring himself to stop his husband and best friend from finally bonding. He ended up sleeping on the couch with his head on Ilya's lap, who at an unknown time, brought Shane with him when he finally decided to go to sleep.
"Ilya, go get in the car. I'll pack your stuff."
"No- I am not that tired."
"I know, but I want to do this for you."
"Fine."
"Thank you. Go get in the car pretty boy."
He winks and Ilya thinks he might actually melt into the floor. He heads out to the carpark and gets into the passenger seat.
Shane carries the two duffel bags and puts them in the boot before walking around to get in. His heart aches at the sight next to him. Ilya is fast asleep, his lips parted slightly as he breathes steadily. Shane smiles and takes a picture before driving them home.
When they park, he leans over the centre console and gently scratches Ilya's scalp.
"Hey, we are home handsome."
"Mhm? Carry me...."
"No, you can just walk. It's like 6 meters to the couch from here."
"Too much."
Shane sighs and walks over to the passenger side, intending on making him walk. However, Ilya is so exhausted that he just reaches his arms out and makes grabby hands. He sighs heavily, cursing himself before murmuring softly.
"Come on then you big baby."
He picks him up bridal style and kicks the door shut, walking up to the front door.
"Ilya, I have to unlock the door. Gonna have to put you down."
Ilya almost whines before letting Shane put him down to unlock the door. When they go inside, Anya is bouncing up and down and smiling wide. Shane walks to go let her out the back door, keeping it open while he pours her some dinner and heading back to the living room. He sits down next to Ilya, pulling him into his arms.
"Come here."
"You are so warm."
Ilya snuggles his face into Shane's chest, smiling as he wraps the blanket around them both. The Canadian goes to gently play with his hair, scratching his scalp and the nape of his neck. It always makes him feel like candy floss.
"You did really well these last few weeks Ilya."
"Really?"
"Well, yeah. We've been on the road a lot sure, But you've been sleeping - apart from last night - generally really good, and I'm proud of you."
"Thank you sweetheart."
"And I think you've gotten so much better at skating backwards, like you're getting so fast."
Ilya smiles and takes his face out of Shane's chest, looking up at him with heart eyes.
"You are being very nice to me today Shane. What did I do so that I can do it more?"
Although it sounds teasing, he is being truly serious. Shane can struggle with his words sometimes, especially if they are coming from an emotional place. Therapy has been helping him a lot, but Ilya always wants to do whatever he can to help him.
"Nothing that you did I don't think. Well- I always think nice things about you obviously. But today I'm feeling like I can say those things out loud."
"Mhm, I like it. Can we watch the new episode of the baking show?"
"Bake off? Yeah, sure baby."
They turn on bake off before settling in fully into the couch, Ilya snuggling even further into his warm and comforting embrace. The boys have been binge watching the older seasons, judging the contestants and laughing when things go wrong.
"Her cake looks like shit. Is not even on theme."
"You think so? I think it has some kind of- well, I was gonna say vision but that icing has ruined it."
"Mhm. I would be better."
"Better at making cakes?"
"No. Staying on theme. I may not know English well, but I am not idiot."
Shane smiles and kisses the top of his head.
"You are really good at baking. And cooking. I need to send Galina another thank you card for that recommendation."
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About two hours later, and Ilya yawns for the fourth time in the last couple of minutes. His eyes water at the effort, wiping them on Shane's shirt before looking into his eyes again.
"Bed?"
"Yeah, you look exhausted."
Anya follows the boys to the bedroom, laying happily in her dog bed before drifting off to sleep. After a nice shower, Shane drags Ilya to put some moisturiser on his face.
"Your skin has really cleared up, it doesn't look like it hurts anymore. Is the dry skin still painful?"
"Not with that- moist...."
Ilya frowns as he tries to pronounce the rest of the word without stumbling over the syllables, groaning when his tongue doesn't English. It's always much more difficult when he is tired. Shane speaks up, rubbing toner into his own skin as his voice smoothly transitions into Russian.
"It's better because of the moisturiser?"
"Yes, my nose is much less painful. Thank you."
"No worries, I'll get you your own bottle."
Shane pours some serum onto his hands before rubbing it in too. Ilya watches, leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom. He's seen him do this routine hundreds of times every night, but he is just as drawn into his husband's beauty as the first time.
It's not long before they get cosy in bed. They can't decide who should big spoon tonight, which is obviously a big deal for them both. After some consideration (force), Ilya was gently pulled (forcefully dragged) into Shane's arms, who was insisting that whoever is more tired should be the little spoon. Shane kisses the top of his head, murmuring as he plays with his soft curls.
"I love watching you fall asleep in my arms. It's nice."
"You watch me sleep? Creep."
"You've literally sent photos of me sleeping to the team group chat before."
"Okay, you have caught me."
They laugh warmly before settling down. turning on the speakers to play quiet background music. Shane just quietly looks at the beautiful man in his arms, stroking through the blonde strands and occasionally scratching his scalp.
"Goodnight Ilya."
"G'....night....."
Ilya starts snoring quietly, making Shane smile wide and blushing before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep aswell.