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The Metros destroy the Raiders in the first game of the season and frankly Ilya does not care to be scolded about it.
Their coach is next to purple in the face yelling at them after the loss but Ilya is thinking about how Shane has probably let himself into Ilya’s house because now Shane has a code. Why would the star center for the Metros have a code? Because he’s Ilya’s boyfriend. That’s why.
His hot, talented, smart boyfriend.
Ilya can’t say that aloud so he just stays a little smug in his brain and tries not to smile too much and nod appropriately.
Sure, it would’ve been fantastic if they had destroyed the Metros. Shane would’ve been whiney and pissy. Ilya would’ve had no choice but to suck Shane’s brain out of his dick, until he was as soft and malleable in Ilya’s bed. He’d keep up the pouting for a little while longer, but he always gave away to soft smiles under Ilya’s hands.
“Rozanov! What are you smirking about!” Coach’s brash voice did its best to cut through Ilya’s thoughts.
“We’ll get them on their backs next time,” Ilya said, very much hoping he can get a particular Metro on his back within the hour. I-just-won Shane is smug and bold, ready to be taken apart and brought back together again. Ilya loved every mood Shane could be in. Ilya shifted in his stall to keep from drawing too much attention to himself. The last thing he wanted was to drag this out.
Finally they’re released from Coach’s angry echo chamber, and Ilya only breaks a few laws getting home from the Garden.
Shane had left the light on, a bravely domestic thing. It’s important Ilya, to make sure you can get in safe. You should set a timer Shane had told him the last time he’d left a light on for him. It does make keying the door open easy, it also makes him feel like his heart is being wrapped in cashmere.
“Shane?” Ilya called, dropping his bag in the front entrance way to deal with it in the morning.
“Dining room,” Shane called back, and Ilya stepped through his house to find Shane kneeling on top of his dining room table, a part of the light fixture in his hand, and a bulb in the other. “Can you hold this for me?”
“Uh, Shane.” Ilya took the gold loop and watched as Shane swapped the bulbs.
“Yeah?” Shane held out the old bulb, and Ilya gave him back the light fixture.
“What are you doing?” Ilya asked, immediately he knew Shane would answer literally.
“Changing a bulb, I saw this one went out and you had extras under the sink.” He screwed the fixture back into place, and turned on the table, using Ilya’s shoulder as a prop to come down efficiently and safely. Ilya held out the arm holding the bulb just in case the most graceful man he’d ever met suddenly lost balance.
“I can see that, but why?” Ilya held onto Shane as Shane put his shoes back on.
“Because it was out?” Shane tilted his head, “Sorry, should I have not poked around for the bulb?”
“No, is fine,” Ilya waved his hand holding the bulb, “I would not have known they were there. But why” Ilya emphasized. “I have a guy who does the … you know fixing.”
“Replacing a bulb is not fixing. Its basic maintenance. Why would you pay someone to do it when it takes ten minutes to do it yourself?” Shane took the bulb out of Ilya’s hands and moved towards the kitchen.
“I have a list of things, he comes and does them, I pay him, and I do not need to stand on the table.” Ilya cornered Shane after he tossed out the bulb. “Although it did put you at a perfect height.”
“Shut up,” Shane’s eyes flickered down to Ilya’s lips and Ilya takes that as the invitation it absolutely is, lifting his boyfriend onto the counter to kiss him properly.
“I missed you,” Ilya said, running his hands up and down Shane’s thighs, still bulked up and soft from the off season. “Let’s quit hockey and run away to Fiji.”
“You’re just saying that because I kicked your ass today.” Shane pointed out.
“Fuck you Hollander–” Ilya nipped at Shane’s lower lip, as Shane smiled.
“Wait, what else is on the list?” Shane asked as Ilya draped his arm around Shane’s shoulders.
“Ugh, Hollander. Focus, it’s been two weeks–”
“We had phone sex last night!”
“–I need you.” Ilya pouted at him, “let me fuck away my sorrows, losing to such a team as the Metros.”
“You know they’re the best in sport, I’ve heard you say it.” Shane squeezed his knees, “come on, tell me what else is on the list.”
Ilya sucked his teeth and then looked up, trying to think. Everything for the outside had been done all at once to prepare for the season. He’d told the guy that he was planning on selling his house in the Spring and just did whatever else he suggested for it. Other than that he’d spent every free moment either on the rink, or in his bed on the phone with Shane. “I don’t know, Svetlana said there was a weird nose in the guest bathroom.”
“Okay,” Shane jumped off the counter, grabbing the old coffee cup with a few tools in it.
“Hollander,” Ilya groaned, following him, “what part of I miss you isn’t clear?”
“I miss you too but I don’t want to be thinking about this the whole time. How does it not bother you? I thought Svetlana hasn't been here in a week.” Shane opened the guest bedroom, which at this point might as well have Sveta written on the door.
“It’s nothing, is drip. I think I call a different guy for that right?”
Shane shot him a look of disbelief as he opened up the bathroom. He fiddled around with the sink for a moment, lowering his head so he could hear the offending sound. Within seconds he’s on his back looking up at the pipes for the sink with his phone’s flashlight.
“This is not your job Hollander,” Ilya said, leaning on the door frame to watch him, “you are my guest.”
“No, I’m your boyfriend. This is definitely boyfriend territory.” He held out a hand, wiggling his fingers at Ilya, “can you give me a wrench.”
Ilya pulled out his phone, and opened the translator app, “Ask me for it again.”
Shane said wrench, and the app told him a word he actually understood, he rifled through the can and handed over a wrench to him.
Ilya let him mutter at the pipes in peace for a moment, his shirt riding up on his muscular stomach. The competent quick moves from under the sink. Of course Shane wouldn’t let them fuck until he fixed the entirely minor problems that Ilya didn’t realize he even had. Finally he asked, “boyfriend territory?”
“Yeah, you know, you call me when you have a bad day, we take turns cooking meals, I help you with minor maintenance in your house.” Shane tilted his head so Ilya could see him, “this isn’t a pipe issue by the way. Or else we would’ve had to turn off the water. There’s just a loose nut clanging around under the sink.”
Ilya had spent the better part of the summer getting acquainted with the benefits of a serious monogamous relationship. Shane sent him smiling selfies and post workout pics. The phone calls were absolutely fantastic, and most of them were just check in calls when they were out and about. Not all of them ended in phone sex. This angle was new to him.
“I mean you do the same thing. You calm me down when I’m freaking out, you make the second round of coffee, you know. Boyfriend things.” Shane slid out from underneath the sink, flushed and a little mussed up.
Ilya’s heart clenches in his chest at the sight of him, looking so pleased with himself on the floor of his guest bathroom.
Shane stood back up, and fiddled with the sink. Sure enough the little odd noise Sveta had complained about was gone.
“See?” Shane tucked the wrench back into the cup, and washed his hands in the sink. “Easy peasy.”
“Wow,” Ilya set the cup on the sink, taking Shane’s hips into hands, and asked in his most sultry voice, “however will I pay you?”
“Really Ilya are you going to–” he stops Ilya from lifting him onto the sink “–This sink is not strong enough to hold anyone’s weight, let alone mine. If you were staying here I’d recommend reinforcing it but the next owners might redo this bathroom.”
“What’s wrong with the bathroom?” Ilya looked around knowing full well that the last time he’d been in here was during a particularly chaotic party three years ago. He hired someone to do the cleaning and to keep the bathroom stocked up. What was the point of making stupid piles of money if you didn’t spend it.
“It’s fine, it just might not be to the next owner’s tastes.” Shane shrugged.
Ilya studied him for a moment, “how did you know how to fix the sink?”
“Dad taught me, Grandpa owned a hardware store and my uncle is in construction.” Shane poked Ilya in the chest, “it’s important to know the basics of home repair but know your limits.”
“My limits are…” Ilya couldn’t even think of a joke, “I don’t know. I know how to change a lightbulb.”
“Well,” Shane nudged Ilya out of the bathroom and towards the master bedroom. That one they were both infinitely more familiar with. “Good thing you have a boyfriend who knows how to do minor repairs.”
“What, you want me to save the little list for you? I am a jobs creator Hollander. You have a job. I need you focused here.” Ilya points towards the bed, “When you’re in my house you should be naked and begging.”
“Ilya,” Shane admonished, folding his wrists behind Ilya’s neck, “let me take care of you.”
Ilya’s heart was going to burst from his chest, “Ok maybe just the tiniest and stupidest jobs.”
“Good,” Shane ran his fingers through Ilya’s hair, “now you can pay me by giving me really good pipe.”
“I have the best boyfriend duties,” Ilya responded and tossed Shane onto the bed.