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1. Sinking While Swimming by CaffeinatedFlumadiddle

   Fandoms: Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid  

   • Mature
   • Graphic Depictions Of Violence
   • M/M
   • Work in Progress

   31 Jan 2026

   Tags

   • Graphic Depictions Of Violence
   • Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov
   • Hayden Pike & Ilya Rozanov
   • Ilya Rozanov & Irina Rozanova
   • Alexei Rozanov | Andrei Rozanov & Ilya Rozanov
   • Troy Barrett & Ilya Rozanov
   • Ilya Rozanov
   • Shane Hollander
   • Hayden Pike
   • Alexei Rozanov | Andrei Rozanov
   • Brandon Wiebe
   • Y'all pls let me explain
   • I... cannot help but be drawn to complicated angst
   • Also the violence tag isn't actually that violent but I'm playing it safe
   • Self-Harm
   • Implied/Referenced Self-Harm
   • Depression
   • Self-Hatred
   • Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
   • Complicated Relationships
   • Miscommunication
   • Ilya will make objectively bad decisions
   • some will frustrate you
   • but he is trying his best in his own fucked up way
   • Married Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov
   • Shane is an excellent husband
   • Good Friend Hayden Pike
   • Also unexpected Hayden and Ilya vibes
   • but with their signature frenemies flare
   • Alexei is a....
   • uh
   • not nice but also not the worst
   • I have allowed him complexity but not necessarily likeability
   • who knows tho
   • maybe he'll grow on us all
   • Post-Book 6: The Long Game (Game Changers)
   • Spoilers for Book 6: The Long Game (Game Changers)
   • Irina Rozanova Haunts the Narrative
   • I hesitate to say humor for this
   • Attempt at Humor
   • Banter
   • Ilya is himself is really where the lols come from
   • and where the tears come from
   • the duality of man

   Summary

   “Maybe you don't have to-”

   “Uh-uh. No backtracking now.” Hayden pointed a finger at him. “If you tell Shane, fantastic. Would love that, quite frankly, but until you do, I want those goddamn pictures, Rozanov. Am I clear?” Ilya wanted to make some quip about Pike trying to get a different kind of picture out of him, but given the circumstances... He just nodded. “Good. My kids tragically love the fuck out of you, so figure this out.” Ilya nodded again. “Alright then.”

   Silence followed. Ilya eventually got up, and Hayden awkwardly walked him to the door.

   “Ilya,” he said, surprising him with the first name. “I know what I say doesn’t particularly matter, and I am mainly just a fail-safe for this situation, but…” He opened the front door and clicked his tongue. “For what it’s worth, you’re a good guy and don’t deserve the shit your brain apparently puts you through.”

   "I'm a married man, Pike."

   Or

   Ilya’s depression shifts into some self-harming tendencies, despite how well he can justify most of it. An unexpected cavalry comes together.

   (AKA I found a story filled with sex and decided to hone in on my other favorite things: mental health and complex family dynamics)

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   7,062

   Chapters:

   2/7

   Comments:

   36

   Kudos:

   226

   Bookmarks:

   69

   Hits:

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