Chapter Text
“It’s a little insulting” Bood notes, standing next to Xander in the tunnel after warmups.
Xander had been paying zero attention to Bood, trying to stop one of their new rookies, Luca Haas, from having a panic attack before his first game. He’s a brilliant kid, and he’s going to fit perfectly on the second line, just like they planned, but he’s also freaking out and is too star struck by Shane and Ilya, so it’s Xander’s job.
Though, to be fair, it was from the beginning because the C is back on Xander’s jersey.
“What is?” Xander questions while he fiddles with Luca’s tape.
Okay, maybe he’s also making the kid a little nervous by fussing over him, but whatever. He’s already checked Pointy’s, Bergy’s and Young’s, so he had to check Haas’ tape just in case.
“The crowd” Bood answers vaguely and Xander gives him a look.
“Coach just said that it’s sold out” Xander deadpans, which only makes the rookies look more nervous.
Fucking Bood.
“Yeah, but no sold out crowds last season” Bood points out and Xander rolls his eyes.
“They do not sell out for only third best player” Ilya grins, throwing his arms over both Xander and Bood, and causing Luca to squeak and move away.
Ilya looks good in his Centaurs jersey, the A stitched on from where Bood had readily given it up, saying that he was done being Xander’s wingman for leadership shit.
“They only want us when we’re winning” Bood pouts, shaking his head.
“They’ll want us a lot this year then” Shane answers, appearing on Luca’s other side (which makes Xander worry the kid is about to faint).
Xander had originally thought Shane Hollander was as humble as he was during interviews, being the golden boy of the league and Canada’s prince. However, he has learned after Shane joining the team that Shane is not humble in private, and he could be called arrogant if he couldn’t back all of it up easily.
Xander blames Ilya rubbing off on Shane, but he also felt like both guys have been able to be more like their true selves here. Ilya has been more open with his emotions, not pushing off the asshole persona much anymore, unless it’s to deal with the press. He’s still a menace, don’t get Xander wrong, but the asshole rumors couldn’t be less from true.
Shane, meanwhile, has been able to let go more. He’s not carrying his team on his back anymore, and the Centaurs wouldn’t even let him if he tried. He insisted on taking an official leadership position, and so he’s able to just be a player, and he admitted to Xander during training camp that he’s rediscovered why he fell in love with hockey to begin with.
“Damn right they will” Xander answers, not looking bothered when Shane takes Luca’s stick from Xander and messes with the tape a little bit more.
This poor kid is going to combust before they call them out.
Thankfully, the second and third lines are called out first and they go in groups, but still receive huge cheers from the audience. The rookies have already managed to charm themselves with the fans and fans still love their older players. Bood gets a cheer so loud that Xander loses hearing for a minute.
The first line defensemen, Nick and LaPointe get called out next, and then Wyatt, all of whom get cheers loud enough that Xander is really glad he got the expensive sound muffling headphones for Zoe before the game.
“Your star center: SHANE HOLLANDER!” Scratch that, once Shane steps out onto the ice, the cheering gets so loud that Xander starts to get a headache.
“Your alternate captain and right winger: ILYA ROZANOV!” Ilya kisses Xander’s cheek before he skates out onto the ice, a grin on his face so huge that makes Xander worry he has something planned.
“And, your captain, your daddy—” Fuck you, Rozanov. “Your left winger: ALEXANDER SINCLAIR!”
The emphasis put on his name blows him away, especially compared to Shane and Ilya, but he has never heard this stadium get so loud. He can’t help but grin like an idiot as he skates onto the ice and he’s immediately welcomed by the rest of their starting line, bar Wyatt who is already settled into his crease.
Bood is guffawing from the bench and Xander never thought he would use that specific verb before but it’s the only correct word to describe Bood’s laugh at the announcement. Ilya is giggling too, despite his declaration that “Russians do not do this” even though he’s been caught many times doing it.
They didn’t play in any of the preseason games together. Wiebe preferred to have them play alongside Luca and to take turns. It was a safety thing too, you don’t want your star players getting injured before the actual season starts. So, while Shane, Ilya, and Xander all played separately, they’ve never taken the ice together for a game before.
It’s why no one in the crowd sits down while Xander and Ilya line up on either side of Shane before the puck drop. They all want to see it. It’s a match made in heaven really, the first, second, and third best players in the league playing on the same line together.
It’s the wet dream of any hockey coach in the league and for any hockey team fan in the league.
Wiebe and the Centaurs are about to get it in real life.
It’s against the Admirals and Scott Hunter is looking like he regrets all life choices. Xander kneels down near Shane and catches the last bit of Ilya chirping that Hunter is old and decrepit. Shane, in the fashion of letting go, doesn’t hide his laugh at it, only encouraging Ilya.
“Seriously, Sinclair?” Hunter looks to Xander while the ref takes his sweet time coming over to drop the puck.
“Play nice” Xander directs at Shane and Ilya, which makes Hunter nod in gratitude, before Xander finishes “with Hunter’s new rookie, this is his first game.”
“Fuck you, Sinclair” Hunter’s exclamation is drowned out by the puck being dropped and Shane immediately stealing it from Hunter.
Hunter is screwed, the Admirals are screwed, every team in the MLH is screwed, Xander realizes as Shane takes it off with Xander and Ilya close behind. I
It’s effortless, the exchange of the puck to weave around the forwards and then back towards the defensemen and the goalies. Shane passes it to Ilya, who passes it to Xander when a defensemen almost steals it from him, and Xander circles around the game before passing it to Shane who nails it in.
Looking up at the clock, they scored within the first thirty seconds, which is a personal best for him assisting.
“Fuck yeah” Ilya is exclaiming, pulling him and Shane into a hug.
“This might be unfair” Shane grins without an ounce of remorse in his voice.
Xander doesn’t feel any guilt either. It’s not their fault that they got Shane and Ilya on the team and created the most powerful first line in the league, it’s the Metros’ fault, something that has become abundantly clear over the summer as more information comes out about the blatant homophobia within the organization.
Even Crowell couldn’t defend them against the onslaught of complaints the internet is issuing, but Crowell is damn well trying.
The crowd is going wild and as the second line gets sent out, Bood makes sure to give Xander, Shane, and Ilya a sloppy kiss on the helmet. Shane and Xander grimace while Ilya pulls him back to reciprocate.
It takes a few shifts but they get Shane another puck in the back of the net, this time assisted by Ilya and Pointy, who had come up during the desperate grab for the puck with Nick.
It’s 2-0 Centaurs, with Hayes barely needing to try in the back of the net since they keep the puck on the Admirals side of the ice almost the entire time.
Hunter has gotten some good breakaways but Shane Hollander is a surprisingly good defender, which Xander fears is from Shane having to carry the Metros on his back for so long, and is able to steal the puck from Hunter just about every time.
Xander swears he’s seen Shane wink at Hunter before skating back down to the Admirals goal, and he knows Ilya has noticed too, given the proud smile on his face the entire time.
The entire bench empties onto the ice at the start of the third when Luca gets a breakaway and scores. It’s not only his first goal in the MLH, but it was also completely unassisted, and Luca practically broke Hunter’s ankles when he skated past him.
Luca looks as shocked as everyone else, like he is just now processing what he did, which is only made harder with the three best hockey players surrounding him and congratulating him.
“Damn fucking right” Xander tugs Luca into a bone crushing hug when it’s his turn while Ilya is shouting something in Russian and Shane is congratulating him.
The next and last goal comes from Shane towards the end of the third. Xander and Ilya had exchanged a look, deciding to double down on their efforts to get Shane a hat trick. Xander isn’t even nearby when Shane gets the hat trick. He had been shoved into the boards by one of the Admirals defensemen when Xander didn’t even have the puck.
It’s a penalty that the refs choose to ignore in favor of Ilya’s breakaway, that he passes to Shane, who nails it in the back of the net.
Xander has to shove the defenseman off of him to get over there to celebrate, ignoring the twinge in his ribs at it. He doesn’t notice Shane and Ilya locking their eyes on the defenseman before they are already there, with Shane getting up in the man’s face.
“Get the fuck away from my Captain” Shane orders, shoving the man back.
The crowd is still raining hats onto the ice and yet Shane is getting into the face of this defenseman who had gotten away with a small penalty.
“Hollzy, enough” Xander pulls him back and Shane goes pliantly. “Roz, no.”
Xander adds it when he sees Ilya move to take Shane’s place in talking to the man. The bench has cleared again and the guys quickly surround them, with Bood pointedly shoving the defenseman.
It’s electric and they keep the energy for the rest of the game. Hayes gets his shut out despite Hunter’s very best efforts. Shane gets his hat trick, Luca gets his first goal in the MLH, and the fans are realizing that their predictions for this season were underselling how good the Centaurs can be.
It’s intoxicating, really, and Xander wouldn’t sell the feeling for the world.
“That’s what I’m fucking talking about!” Xander exclaims to cheers in the locker room before the press have weaseled their way in and will pull people aside for interviews.
“That’s how we fucking do it” Xander continues as the team quiets down somewhat to listen to him.
“And we’re going to do it again in Boston, Toronto, and fucking Montreal!” Xander decides, and it’s Troy who calls it out.
“Swear jar!”
The Centaurs swear jar has some… interesting rules. ‘Fuck’ is not a curse word, but ‘Montreal’ and ‘Toronto’ are and Xander will easily pay the twenty bucks for it.
“Get changed, do your interviews, and then we’re going to the fucking club!” Bood exclaims to another round of cheers.
Xander moves to Luca, complimenting him on his goal, and Shane comes over only a minute or two later, talking about how tactically impressive it was. Someone will definitely have to keep an eye on the kid tonight because of his adrenaline high.
Xander makes his way to his locker, stopping Bood before he heads for the showers.
“Hey, Lilah came with Zoe so I don’t think I’ll be able to go out, can you watch everyone?” Xander requests and Bood hesitates.
“I don’t know, man, Hollzy with a hat trick, Hazy with a shut out and Luca with his first goal, I think you need to be there” Bood says apologetically.
Xander knew it was true, but he needed someone else to say it to him because he really hates leaving Lilah to watch Zoe.
“Hey, next home game, Cass and I will take Zoe and she’s all yours” Bood promises and Xander nods, about to say something else but Wiebe is calling his and Luca’s name for official press.
“They don’t want Shane?” Xander mutters to Wiebe as he follows his Coach out of the locker room.
“I got them to agree to just locker room interviews so that Rozanov could be there in case anyone tried to pounce him” Wiebe explains and Xander nods.
It makes sense. Despite Shane being the one to take the Centaurs to the playoffs and get them to the second round, he was nervous coming back this year where it was going to be a full year. He really worried the team was mad at him for not getting them farther, meanwhile the team is still riding the high of having The Shane Hollander on their team, and they’ll be riding it for a while.
“I’ll handle most of this, but just nudge my foot if you want a question I don’t give you” Xander advises Luca, who nods, a permanent smile on his face since the goal and Xander can’t blame him. After Xander’s first goal, he cried multiple times even a week after out of sheer pride in himself for getting this far.
As they walk down the hallway, Xander pulls his phone out of his pocket and opens his text chain with Lilah.
Hey, baby, I’ve got to take the guys out tonight
I promise I’ll take you wherever you want next week and we can have a Zoe free night
Do you need any help getting home?
That’s okay
I didn’t drink or anything :)
Zoe and I were cheering for you!
You did great
Okay, I love you
Let me know if you need me to come home early or anything
If not, I’ll probably be out late so I can make sure the rooks get to bed
They settle in the press room and Xander hides a grimace at all the flashing lights. He loves Shane and Ilya, but he does not love all the extra press they bring with them everywhere they go.
“Xander, how does it feel to pass off the reins to Shane and Ilya?” it’s one of the first questions and Xander ignores the little insecure pang that his team doesn’t need him now that they have Shane and Ilya.
“I definitely like passing the puck to them” Xander answers, successfully dodging the question. “They are both talented and hardworking players and I could go on about them forever, as I’m sure just about any hockey fan could.”
“Xander, is there a reason the Centaurs chose to keep you as Captain in favor of Shane and Ilya?” Another reporter asks and Xander sighs. He was really hoping this wouldn’t become about him, but of course it did.
“Shane and Ilya didn’t want the C and I am privileged to have the C” Xander responds shortly.
A third reporter, one of the veteran reporters who Xander likes, successfully redirects the conversation. “Luca, that was your first MLH goal, how does it feel and what was going through your mind during the breakaway?”
Xander watches Luca light up at the question and openly smiles. He can already imagine the posts about him adopting another rookie but he finds he doesn’t mind fulfilling that part of his “daddy” duties.
Luca describes being elated and so excited while Xander dutifully nods along, glad that the attention is on Luca right now, and he’s sure that Shane is getting similar attention right now in the locker room under the dutiful eye of Ilya.
They have decided to not announce their relationship just yet, but they’re also not actively trying to hide it either. Xander respects it because he knows how crazy everything was when he publicly proposed to Lilah, and he isn’t gay and dating the other best hockey player in the MLH.
Still, just about everyone around them knows, and Xander counts on the Internet realizing somewhat soon, especially if Ilya glues himself to Shane’s side during pressers like he is prone to do.
“Xander, how are you, Shane, and Ilya meshing on your line? Has there been any disagreements due to the rivalries between you three?” A reporter pulls Xander’s attention back to the present.
“I still don’t think I should be included in their rivalry, they are amazing players in a league of their own. However, Shane and Ilya are good friends and have been for a while, I think they were just afraid of ruining the rivalry that fans love so much” Xander answers. “They are amazing to work with and always have something new to bring to the table, and I think you saw some of that tonight.”
“How is Bood doing not having the A and not being on your line anymore?” Another reporter Xander knows well asks. It would be insinuating something if not for the joking tone in which it was said because everyone knows Bood and Xander are best friends.
“I thought my infant was clingy, but…” Xander doesn’t finish and doesn’t need to before they are laughing. He gives a smile before continuing, “seriously, though, Bood is doing great work on the second line and I think he’s happy to be able to work with our phenomenal rookies, particularly Luca, and is probably relieved that he doesn’t have to worry about me hogging the puck anymore.”
The interview is wrapped up soon after and, only after being allowed to shower, Bood and Wyatt are dragging him into a car and to Monk’s, their favorite bar/club. Xander doesn’t drink but he does find himself paying for the first few rounds of drinks. Ilya tries to get Xander to pay for every goal that Xander didn’t score, but Shane stepped in at some point.
Ilya is with the rookies, Nick, and Evan on the dancefloor, all of them making embarrassments of themselves while some of the other veterans are scouting out a table since it’s so crowded and they couldn’t find one when they first came in. Xander and Shane are standing off to the side, waiting for someone to find a table.
“Thank you” Shane says and it’s so quiet that Xander doesn’t register it at first against all the noise here.
“I really don’t mind paying for drinks, man” Xander assures him, because he can’t think of something else Shane could thank him for.
Shane shakes his head, “for all of this, the fake gay thing, the trade, the welcoming me onto the team… I never got this in Montreal and you’ve given me… everything.”
“No, I haven’t” Xander shakes his head, looking at Ilya who is dancing with a blushing Luca. “This is all you, Hollzy. You’re the one who came out when you knew your own team was homophobic and would kick you out, you’re the one who moved to a forgettable hockey team, and you’re the one who got a hat trick tonight.”
“You’re the one who gave me the opportunity” Shane answers. “I wouldn’t have had the courage if you and Bood hadn’t decided to fake being gay.”
“You’re the one who took the opportunity” Xander disagrees and Shane huffs.
He looks down sheepishly. “How about 50/50?”
“70/30” Xander shakes his head.
“60/40?”
“Deal” Xander agrees, shaking Shane’s hand mockingly which makes the man laugh.
“And Shane, seriously, I’ve got your back.”
“I’ve got yours too.”