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It was one of the date nights, which meant they’ll actually leave the house and go somewhere instead of just chilling on a couch with some anime playing in the background while they wait for their food to delivered. No, today Dan was taking Phil to see a hockey match. There is some sort of exhibition game happening in London to raise money for charity and there are supposed to be one of the best hockey players from all over the world. It’s not like Dan or Phil are some huge sport fans but who doesn’t like to watch a bunch of buff men show off their skating skills?
So that’s how they found themselves cheering on another successfully scored goal of the night by a Canadian star, Shane Hollander. The score was 3:1 for the team Hollander was playing for tonight and Dan had a feeling they would win, even though the other team had Ilya Rozanov on their side and from what Dan read online, they had like this rivalry between them and when they played against each other, it got very competitive very fast. When the sound announced a break, he turned to Phil with phone in his hand, showing him a photo from one of the many Montreal vs. Boston matches.
“Look at those two Phil, I swear that sport looks more gay than they like to admit. Just look at this photo, I mean, they look like they’re ready to jump each other rather than play with sticks…”
Phil looked at Dan’s phone and he had to admit that the way those two players were intensely looking at one another instead of the puck between them, it really looked like there was more to it than just the typical sport rivalry. It reminded him of how Dan sometimes looks at him when it’s just the two of them in their bed.
“Who are these two? Do you know the names?”
“This one on the left is Shane Hollander, he’s number 24. He’s from Canada and he plays for Montreal. The other one is Ilya Rozanov, 81, Russian player, he belongs in the Boston team.”
“Wow, you did your research before we went here, didn’t you?” asked Phil with a knowing smirk. Dan never misses an opportunity to impress him with his knowledge, even if it might be about sport neither of them watch regularly.
“I wanted to know more about who is playing tonight and then I found myself stuck in the rabbit hole of watching top hockey moments compilations on YouTube at 3 am… These two are supposed to be huge stars of the NHL and big rivals but you know, it seems more like enemies to lovers to me,” Dan laughed and smirked at that thought.
“Enemies to lovers? Dan, this is not a fanfiction about us from 2012, this is people’s job. But that got me wondering, are there any queer hockey players? Not just on those American teams but in general?” Phil was thinking about what it would be like be openly queer in this masculine environment.
“I don’t know if openly queer, but there must be some. Take how many teams are there, how many players each team has- that would be impossible.”
As Dan wanted to google that information, the players were back in their positions and the siren announced that the match is continuing. With excitement, Dan looked at the two players in the center and realized it number 24 and 81. They were facing each other, ready to steal the puck first. It looked like Rozanov was saying something to Hollander and before the Canadian had a chance to react, the puck was flying in the other direction. Well, who knew that hockey could be this interesting?
When the match ended, Dan turned to Phil as they waited for people to leave their seats and make room so they could go too. Their date night had a second part which Dan didn’t tell Phil about.
“Hey, so… I also reserved a table at a restaurant nearby, I thought we could get a couple of drinks, something small to eat,” proposed Dan because he didn’t know how will Phil feel about spending more time in public.
Even though they were finally out as a couple, sometimes the weight of being watched, gossiped about and probably secretly photographed, these constant thoughts would just scare them and make them feeling uneasy. It happened to both of them, so they just changed the plans last minute and went home, to the safety of their house and arms of each other. Let’s just say it got better each time they went out.
“I’d love that! I hope we’ll not get drunk like that time we went to the garlic themed bar, remember? We filmed that and we were so tipsy when we were leaving and then you had the great idea to open the bottle of wine at home…” Phil giggled at the memory. But he must admit, drunk Dan is very cute Dan, and very affectionate.
“Let’s go then, the table is waiting for us!” Dan proclaimed and took Phil’s hand in his. It was a bit risky, here at the stadium with lots of men that are probably homophobic… But when he looked at his boyfriend, he knew he’d rather deal with few slurs than not hold the hand of a man who makes him happy.
They arrived at the restaurant around the time Dan reserved their table for and they were informed by a very nice lady that they were upgraded to a VIP section so they’ll have more privacy. They both looked at each other in disbelief but didn’t argue, left their jackets at the reception and followed said lady to their table. Sometimes being famous had its perks…
The VIP section of the restaurant was really nice, it was divided from the other section by a huge aquarium with lots of colorful fishes which caught Phil’s attention. They ordered their drinks, for Dan something with hint of gin and for Phil some really, really sweet cocktail. It was so them.
They were deeply in conversation about what anime they’d watch when they’d get home but then Dan noticed they weren’t sitting here all alone. Two tables from them, Dan saw some men in sunglasses and caps sitting down. Would they be lucky to see some celebrities tonight? Dan stretched his neck as far as possible above the decorative palm tress to catch a glimpse of who is sitting there but he had no luck. He turned his attention back to Phil and changed the topic to new video idea when Phil suddenly gasped and looked somewhere behind Dan.
“Dan! It’s them, the hockey players, the ones you told me about!” Phil’s eyes were wide as he whispered excitedly to Dan.
When he looked properly again, Dan saw that it was indeed Hollander and Rozanov, two of the best hockey players. They were sitting close to each other, sunglasses and caps set aside on the table.
“Doesn’t look like they hate each other that much, what do you think Phil?” Dan snorted as he watched those two, sitting really close to each other.
“Maybe it’s just an act for media?”guessed Phil.
And then the Russian player leaned over the table and kissed his supposed rival right on the mouth, hand gently caressing the side of his face.
“Oh, it’s definitely an act for media…” said Phil as he averted his eyes, cheeks slightly pink.
Dan wanted to look away too, but before he got the chance, Rozanov’s eyes caught his and they both stilled. Fuck! What do they do now? Pretend they didn’t see it? Now the other one, Hollander, was looking their way too, great. They must looked like perverts…
“Dan, we have to do something,” Phil hissed through clenched teeth.
“What am I supposed to do? Walk over there and say what? It’s okay, we’re gay too?!”
“Yes! We have to make sure they know it’s safe right now.”
As Dan stood up, the Russian player also stood up. What if he thought they wanted to say something nasty to them? What if he thought Dan wanted to fight? Oh God, just not that, he wouldn’t be able to win a fight against a professional athlete…
Dan looked at Phil as if saying ‘don’t leave me alone in this.’ Thankfully, after all these years they knew how to communicate without words really well and Phil got him. He also stood up and took Dan’s hand, maybe as a sign of peace to those hockey players? They made their way around the palms and stood right in front of their table. What does he say right now?
“Uhm, hi? We saw you play tonight, it was a great experience,” tried to blur out Dan in the most polite tone he cold. He just hope it didn’t come out too rude or sarcastic, his voice had that undertone naturally.
Rozanov looked at them and raised one eyebrow in disbelief. What was his problem? Hollander turned his head around to look at him and Phil, panic clearly written on his face. Then his eyes widened in recognition.
“I know you two, I’ve read an article about your video. You are from YouTube, am I right?” asked the Canadian and the tension suddenly changed into more relaxed atmosphere around them.
“Yes, I’m Phil Lester and this is Dan Howell, my- my boyfriend,” stuttered Phil and reach out his hand in introduction. Dan did the same.
“Ilya, you remember when I told you about those two British men that were secretly in relationship for sixteen years?” Hollander’s lips were playing with smile as he looked at his companion.
“Da.” That was the only thing he said, still looking very intimidating with all those muscles. When Dan met other people, he always had a problem with feeling too tall. Now he was feeling like a stupid child. They all shook each other’s hands and the hockey players properly introduced themselves too. Hollander, now Shane, motioned for them to join their table.
“You know, what I’ve find out about you, it reminds me a lot of me and Ilya. I relate to that secret relationship a little too much,” said Shane.
“I can imagine, we were just talking about if there are any queer players and how would the hockey world treat them, right Dan?” Phil poked Dan in shoulder. Dan shook his head in agreement, ripped out if his thoughts.
“We are not out, not to the whole world, anyway. My parents know about us, my friend, which is also my ex-girlfriend, and Ilya’s best friend from Russia. Also my mate, Hayden Pike, knows about us, but he disapproves of Ilya,” Shane laughed at the last note.
“It’s not my fault he can’t wrap his head around the fact that we have great sex and nobody gets pregnant like his wife!” Ilya groaned and threw his arms in the air.
“Ilya! Don’t scare our new friends!” Hollander said, pretending to be offended. He watched few of Dan and Phil videos when the media exploded with articles about their coming out as couple, so he knows these two won’t be scared by mention of gay sex.
They chatted the whole night, ordering and drinking way too many drinks than was healthy, getting to know each other more, discussing details of their relationships. Shane and Phil discovered how similar they were with their routines and having their special way of doing things, whereas Dan and Ilya bonded over sarcasm and how they both struggle with their heads sometimes.
When they parted their ways that night, Dan and Phil made sure the other couple knew their secret was safe with them and that they won’t tell anybody. Ilya promised to stay in touch and to follow both of them on social media.
It was nice to know they aren’t in this mess of keeping secrets and admitting truths alone and for once Dan hoped that them being out would really give the courage to someone else, to do the freeing but very hard decision.
Ilya Rozanov @ilyarozanov81
We are so ready to beat you, @shanehollander24 ! 💪
Shane Hollander @shanehollander24
Not a chance! 😘
Daniel Howell @danielhowell
How do you feel about a trip to Canada, @AmazingPhil, wanna watch some heated rivalry on the ice? 😉