Work Text:
Shane's phone pinged with an ESPN Alert.
Breaking News: NHL Commissioner Crowell Fired
Sources are indicating that NHL commissioner Roger Crowell has been relieved of his duties by the NHL board of governors after several recordings have recently surfaced threatening several queer NHL players, including Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander, Troy Barrett, and Scott Hunter. Sources who spoke to ESPN on the condition of anonymity are telling ESPN that Crowell is on tape giving thinly veiled threats to the few players who have recently come out as anything besides straight. There are also reports of leaked emails to several other players who have voiced their support for the recently out players. One player who is reportedly on the receiving end of some of those emails tells ESPN that it is time for the old guard that Crowell represents to either adapt or get out of the way. Recently, there has been a rollback of league support not only for LGBTQ+ issues, but also for other theme and issue nights.
Updates will be released as more information becomes known in this situation.
Shane locked his phone and was about to put it back on the table when it pinged with a text message. He unlocked his phone and looked at the "Good Guys and Gals Hockey Chat". He smiled, remembering Ilya suggesting the name one night when they were drinking with Scott, Kip, and a few others, discussing their plans going forward for creating a group to stand up against the worst parts about hockey. Obviously, there was a much more official-sounding name that was used by the media when interacting with other organizations, but Ilya's druk suggestion had stuck around in the unofficial group chat.
Hayden Pike: They really paraphrased what I said. There were a lot more 'fucks' in what I said.
Yuna Hollander: What would your wife say to that, Hayden?
Jackie Pike: In this case, I'll allow it. He cleaned up what I had told him I was going to do to Crowell the first time we saw that video of Shane and Ilya after they were outed.
Hayden Pike: You should have heard her when she read the email I got from Crowell after the group made its first public statement.
Ilya Rozanov: Good. He will not be missed. Thank you, Mama Hollander, for telling Shane to record our meeting. Crowell was old bigotted dinosaur.
Shane Hollander: It's nice to see some actual change coming to the league. But I worry this is just damage control more than anything. The league not wanting to have bad press when it came out that Ilya and I are both on the same team next season.
Coach Wiebe: Shane, that's still technically a secret. The papers just got accepted today.
J.J. Boiziau: Eh, we all guessed that's where he was going to end up. We won't tell until it's announced.
Zane Boodram: Welcome to the team, Shane.
Ilya Rozanov: Get your own fiancé, Boodram. He's mine.
Shane Hollander: Ilya, I have no interest in Boodram.
Ilya Rozanov: Good. It would get confusing if I had to make you wear my name on the ice. But it would let everyone know you're mine
Shane Hollander: Ilya, I think the rings and the public video of us making out make it clear we're together. Besides, we've talked about this. Professionally, we're still going to be Hollander and Rozanov. Everywhere else we'll be Hollander-Rozanov.
Ilya Rozanov: Rozanov-Hollander sounds better.
Scott Hunter: I'm so glad I don't play on the same team as you two.
Ilya Rozanov: Hunter, is what you do even considered playing anymore?
Scott Hunter: Fuck you Rozanov.
Ilya Rozanov: No thank you, I am engaged.
Scott Hunter: Not what I meant, Rozanov.
Ilya Rozanov: Can't hear you. On my way to fuck my fiancé.
Shane shook his head. He put the phone down as the multitude of TMI texts came flooding in. A couple of weeks ago, having people know that he and Ilya were involved like that would have scared the hell out of him. Now it made him happy, albeit a little embarrassed by how honest Ilya was. He hadn't heard Ilya sneaking up on him, but he leaned into him when he felt familiar arms wrap around him.
Ilya placed a kiss on his cheek and whispered in his ear, "Hi, baby."
Shane grinned at Ilya, "Hi, baby. Was that really necessary? You know my parents are in that chat."
"They don't know we fuck? I am your lover, no?" Ilya said, calling back to when they had been caught by Shane's dad, and the awkward confession that had followed.
"I like 'husband' better."
"Me too. Only a few more weeks until I make an honest man out of you. Then your mom will love me."
"My mom already loves you, Ilya."
"Yes, I am number one son." Ilya said, wiggling his eyebrows in a way that made Shane laugh.
"I would disagree, but I know you're right." Despite the initial trepidations Yuna had when she learned of the relationship between Ilya and her son, she had laid claim to Ilya. Shane was certain that if they had not worked out as a couple, his mom would still treat Ilya as a second son. That thought warmed Shane every time he thought about it. No matter what the future held for him and Ilya, they had both been changed for the better for knowing each other and loving each other. Shane was glad that it also looked like his and Ilya's relationship was making positive changes outside of the two of them as well. He wasn't sure what the future held, but he knew that with his friends, parents, and Ilya by his side, he would be able to rise to meet the challenges ahead.
"Come on, let's go to our bed, yes?" Ilya asked, pulling Shane up from where he was sitting.
"Have I told you how much I like the sound of that?"
"What?" Ilya asked him.
"'Our' bed." Shane replied, his face full of love.
"Yes, like my heart, it is both of ours," Ilya said, looking as smitten as Shane.