Archive of Our Own ^beta

Of all the things Shane expected from college, making friends with a Russian, frat boy hockey player was not on that list. It wasn’t even a concept of a thought.

He had friends. He had Hayden, his best friend since 6th grade who always helped him reach his top locker before he finally hit his growth spurt in the 10th grade. 

He had Rose. The first girl to actually understand him beyond the measures of his well calculated rituals, planning and diet. She understood him better than even Hayden and Shane even considered himself liking her until he realized he just liked having her as a friend. Something about having a girlfriend didn’t feel like something he’d be into, even though all the guys around him were, he just didn’t consider it.

On his orientation day, in between his mom collecting lots of pamphlets on different clubs he could join and integrate himself into to make college a little easier and trying to explain YouTube tutoring videos to his dad, he made eye contact with one of the orientation helpers and for the first time in his life, blushed under the gaze of another person. A man. A beautiful one at that.

He was a sophomore, an international student, fraternity president and he made himself the leader of Shane’s freshman group, showing them around and only really making direct eye contact with Shane as he took the group on a tour of the campus and the dorms.

Reid Dorm. Shane and coincidentally, Ilya Rozanov’s dorm hall. 

Ilya opted not to stay in the frat dorm simply because he didn’t like to sleep surrounded by the same guys he was on his hockey team with and he preferred to sleep and study in the quiet rather than surrounded by beer and bullshit.

Shane didn’t think about Ilya too much those first couple of months, busying himself with a few clubs like the drama club with Rose where he’d help with the lighting for plays they put on and photography club with Hayden because he insisted. He also spent most of his time in the library, studying, going over notes and listening to conversations that took place around him so he could get a better understanding of how to navigate making more friends.

His mom asked everyday on their call if he’d made any friends and Shane would tell her Rose and Hayden were enough. He’d even made friends with a guy named J.J in his history class because he sat next to him and didn’t care if Shane contributed to the conversation, he just liked to talk to hear himself talk.

Mid October, Shane got a knock on his dorm door. His roommate spent no time there so he mostly had it all to himself.

His throat went completely dry at the man standing before him, shirtless, sweaty, holding a half empty beer with a yellow flyer and smirk on his face.

“Hello Hollander.” Ilya says, smirking and letting his eyes roam over Shane’s lean frame.

Shane cleared his throat, licking his dry lips and thinking of his next words.

“Hi Mr. Rozanov,” Mr? Is he a fucking teacher?

Ilya’s smile only grew.

“I am here to invite you to my party tonight. We won the game this morning and we want to celebrate. I invited the whole floor, you must come, I insist.”

Shane looked at the bright and sort of tacky flyer.

“I’m not much of a party person. Especially not a frat party. Sorry.” Shane said, handing the flyer back but Ilya took a swig of his beer instead of taking it.

“I insist. Even for a few minutes or like an hour. Come early when it’s less crowded and loud.”

Shane blinked. He didn’t see the harm in one hour.

He shrugged. “If you insist,” 

Ilya grinned widely, nodding. “I do! I am excited, see you later.”

Shane looked at the flyer in his hand, watching Ilya walk away from his door, all back muscles and confidence in the world. Shane shut his door, pressing his back against it and exhaling the breath he’d been holding since he opened it.

How did Ilya know his last name?

He arrived at the party at 5:15. Given it started at 5, he didn’t wanna show up right at five and look like an idiot. Hayden said he’d come later after he woke up and Rose would come with him. Shane walked into the infamous frat house, looking around at the ugly yellow walls and all the misplaced and unorganized furniture and decor.

There was music playing from a loud speaker and he could smell beer already. There were a few people there, women taking shots on the couch, three of the hockey players Shane recognizes from the team photo in the hall surrounded a pool table and Shane wasn’t exactly looking for Ilya. He just thought he’d be here to greet him.

“Hollander!” His last name snapped his attention from the poorly drawn picture on the wall to see who called him.

He didn’t mean to blush, he’s not sure why his face is doing things without his permission but Ilya is standing at the end of the hall with a cropped white shirt and sweatpants hanging low on his V-line. He was holding a beer, hopefully not the same one from earlier and wearing socks that came up to his knees. 

He looked adorable, even though that’s probably not what he was going for. He did look hot but there was a softness to him that Shane can’t really ignore.

He waves a little, smiling as Ilya approaches him and hands him the unopened beer.

“Oh um–I don’t really drink,”

“Is fine. We have soda, come,” Rozanov clutches his wrist, dragging him from the hallway to the kitchen and flinging the fridge open.

“Coke, sprite, Fanta, Ginger ale, not sure who put that here–”

“That’s perfect actually,” Shane says.

Ilya takes out a can, getting a glass from a shelf and handing Shane both.

“Cold enough?” Ilya asks as Shane opens and sips it.

“Yes, thank you for inviting me.”

Ilya beams, walking over to him.

“We have not started yet so you have time to tell me all the boring things about you. I like to know who’s living on the same floor as me,” Ilya says, leaning his chin on his hand and sitting next to Shane at the island.

“There’s not much to tell really. You seem to know the basics.”

“Mm I don’t know your first name, unless you’d just like for me to call you by last name like teammate.” 

“It’s Shane,”

Ilya nods. “Shane. Like Jane. I am Ilya.”

“Ilya.” Shane repeats, earning another sun bright smile from the man.

“Yes, perfect on first try.”

Shane tells him about his major in sports medicine, his parents and being an only child. He tells him about the paper he’s working on for one of his classes and how much he misses his cat, leaning close to show Ilya pictures of her.

“She is very cute, like her dad. What is her name?”

“Lily.”

Ilya smiles. “Very pretty.” His eyes never leave Shane’s. Shane blushes, putting his phone away. He’s about to speak again when the kitchen door slams open, revealing another member of the hockey frat team. They seem to be blended together.

“Roz! Fuck you doing man, we’ve been doing shots without you and Hanson fucking fell off the ladder tryna put the sign up. He busted his lip, it looks sick,” The very tall, older looking man says.

“Marlow, meet Shane. He is a freshman and very pretty, right?” Ilya turns Shane’s chair for him, showing him off like a trophy he won.

Shane nods at Marlow who smiles, sticking out his large hand.

“Nice to meet you, freshman. Thinking about joining the frat? Roz is very persuasive I hear,” Marley winks at Shane, earning a punch in the arm from Ilya.

“Um no, I just wanted to come for a minute. My mom said I should try to make more friends,”

“I am your friend now, yes?” Ilya says, turning Shane’s chair back to him and blinking cutely.

Shane chuckles, clearing his throat and nodding slightly.

“Yeah, sure.” 

The look on Ilya’s face is pure excitement, like he just achieved his life goal, Shane doesn’t understand it.

More people begin piling in the kitchen and Shane’s ears begin ringing a little, his hands finding his thighs, smoothing them down so he doesn’t become overwhelmed by the sudden change.

Several people start talking to Ilya, politely speaking to Shane as well and it becomes a party sooner than expected.

“I-I should go.” Shane says when Ilya turns back to him. 

Ilya frowns slightly but nods. Shane gets up and Ilya walks him through the crowd, pushing already drunk people out of Shane’s way so they can get outside.

“Thank you for coming. I wish you could stay,”

“I’ll come to another one soon. Thank you for inviting me.” 

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ilya says to him, squeezing his shoulder and going back into the house.

Tomorrow. What’s tomorrow? Shane wonders.

Having an 8am class seemed like such a good idea when he was planning his schedule. But he stayed up playing Fortnite for a bit too long and now the 8am class feels like a kick to the head.

He makes it through his morning routine, grabbing his tote and opening his door to

“Good morning, Shane.” Ilya practically sings. He pushes his body off of the wall he was leaning against and hands Shane a drink.

“You like coffee, yes?” 

Shane nods, still gathering his bearings.

“You’re awfully cheery after having a party until four am last night.” Shane says as they walk to the staircase.

“I came back around one, needed sleep for practice. Very glad I don’t live there like Marlow. He will be sloppy today, I know it.” 

Shane isn’t sure why Ilya is walking with him across campus to his science class when the practice rink is on the other side of campus but he doesn’t wanna ask.

It becomes a thing. 

His 8am Wednesday class, Ilya walks him to it, yapping about movies, Russian foods, and anything else his mind can conjure up in the early morning. 

Shane’s 11am Tuesday History class, Ilya is standing outside of the library where Shane comes to review his notes, handing his a ginger ale and telling him about the practice.

Shane’s noon and three pm classes are on opposite sides of campus and Ilya still somehow manages to make it stand outside of both so he can walk with Shane.

Shane doesn’t think too much of it. This is what friends do apparently though Hayden doesn’t walk with him anywhere except to the dining hall.

Ilya is always bringing him a snack too. A banana, an apple while making a joke about a doctor that he learned from his teammate. Ginger ale, mini salads, Russian candy that he has sent once a month because he can’t live without it. Shane gets used to the treatment, looking for Ilya to be outside of his dorm or outside of his class, waiting to walk with him.

“What time are your classes?” Shane asks one afternoon on his way to the library with Ilya trailing by his side.

“Oh, mostly in the evening. Practice in morning, class in evening, games on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. You should come to a game, we usually win.”

“You didn’t win on Thursday,” Shane says, letting Ilya open the door for him and finding his favorite table.

“Ah setback, I was in the box for too long, they needed me.” 

“You’re the only reason you win huh?”

“Yes, I am the star player, they will give me captain next year, you will see.” Ilya says, pulling out Shane’s chair and then sitting across from him.

Shane takes his study time very seriously. He carves out two hours everyday to do so and gives Ilya strict instructions that if he’s gonna be there, he can’t bother Shane too much. It motivates Ilya to do his own studying even though he doesn’t care too much about doing so, swearing he’ll be going to the NHL before he’s even done with college. Shane just smiled, believing in him but insisting that until then, he should do his papers while Shane does his notes.

It’s a random day in February when Shane looks up to give his eyes a break and looks right into Ilya’s eyes.

Shane blinks, unable to read the look on Ilya’s dreamy looking face but he doesn’t look away.

“What?” Shane mutters.

“Nothing.” Ilya says, continuing to look at him versus looking at his own laptop.

“You’re staring,”

“I am aware of this,”

“Why?”

“Why not? Have you seen yourself?”

“In the mirror in the morning, yes.”

“Then exactly, you get it.” 

Shane doesn’t get it but he goes back to looking at his own work. He can’t help the way he looks up again, finding Ilya’s eyes tracing over Shane’s face. He suddenly feels self conscious, putting his hand on his face to maybe get Ilya to look away. He doesn’t. He frowns slightly, blinking but doesn’t stop staring.

The chair next to Shane moves and Shane is almost relieved for something to do other than melt under the weight of Ilya’s gaze. He was starting to feel hot.

“Hey man, I have been looking everywhere for you. Do you wanna come out tonight with me and Jackie? She got us a table at this restaurant and they have that boring bullshit you eat on the menu.” Hayden says, taking out his studying materials.

Shane thinks about what his evening looked like before this invite.

“It’s not boring, it’s healthy.” He says, nudging Hayden in the arm at the insult.

“Healthy and boring. Why are you here, Rozanov, I didn’t know you could read,” 

Ilya shoots him the bird. “I didn’t know you could get a girl to like you. Is big accomplishment, Pike, you should be very proud.” 

Shane doesn’t understand why Hayden and Ilya don’t get along. They’re both his friends and Ilya likes Rose well enough. He doesn’t understand the riff.

“Not all of us are whores, Roz, we like to stick to one woman, right Shane?” Hayden bumps Shane but Shane doesn’t have anything to contribute other than a stiff look at the insinuation of Ilya being a whore. He doesn’t know that side of him, he only ever sees Ilya when he’s around Shane which seems like more times than he’s with anyone else.

“I wouldn’t know.” Shane answers honestly. Hayden rolls his eyes.

“So, yeah, coming?” 

Shane doesn’t know why he looks at Ilya, he’s a grown man who doesn’t need permission to go out with his best friend. Ilya nods a little and Shane nods at Hayden.

“Yeah, sure.”

“Will you go away now, Pike? I was having a very lovely conversation with Shane’s freckles and I would prefer not to be interrupted again.” Ilya says, completely serious.

“No.” Hayden responds, putting his headphones in and decidedly not going away. 

Ilya rolls his eyes, packing his things and standing. He crosses the table and runs a hand through Shane’s hair so he looks up at him.

“Come see me before you sleep, yes?”

Shane just nods up at him. Ilya smiles, satisfied and leaves the library.

Shane watches him go, unfamiliar with the feeling in his chest at watching Ilya walk away from him. It’s kinda been there since they started hanging out but it’s never been this loud before.

“He needs to work on his English,” Hayden mutters.

“His English is fine, open your ears.” Shane bites back, frowning at himself. Hayden raises his eyebrows but Shane goes back to studying, not looking at his friend anymore until it’s time for them to leave.

The restaurant is nice, dimly lit, with really good oysters and salmon cooked to perfection. 

Shane thinks faintly if he should get something for Ilya since he’s going to see him after this. He wonders if he’s already had dinner, if he would appreciate Shane bringing him something from this place. 

Before he can overthink it, he orders something he thinks Ilya would like.

“Getting food for your boyfriend?” Jackie asks, kicking Hayden when he scoffs.

“Boyfriend?” The word feels good on his tongue, much better than girlfriend ever did. He can’t think about it for too long, he has before but hasn’t come to terms with it fully yet. A seafood restaurant doesn’t seem like the place to do it.

“Rozanov right? The hockey guy with the sandy blond hair? You’re always with him.” 

Shane likes Jackie, he doesn’t see what she sees in Hayden. She’s sweet, considerate, and doesn't have a bad thing to say about anyone.

“Oh he’s not…we’re just friends.”

“Oh. You’re always together so I just assumed…” Jackie trails off.

“Not always.”

“More often than not.” Hayden mutters, earning another kick.

“We’re just friends, he’s not even–I’m not–” Shane stops, trying to find his words and piece them together so they sound right.

“We’re friends.” He decides. 

Jackie nods, giving him a warm smile. 

Shane barely registers the rest of the evening, he’s got lots of things on his mind now. 

Boyfriend.

Would he like a boyfriend? He’s never really thought about it. He doesn’t think about dates or liking anyone, he’s very focused on school right now.

The implications of it though. Having a boyfriend. He’d rather have that than a girlfriend so what does that mean?

Does that mean he’s gay? Has he been gay this whole time? He’s thought about it, spiraled about it but didn’t come to a head on conclusion because he’s never kissed a guy. He kissed a girl once but he didn’t really enjoy it. He assumed it was because he was 11 and he wasn’t supposed to be kissing at 11, that was for grownups.

He’s a grownup now and he still wouldn’t want to kiss a girl.

A boy though. He could kiss a boy. He could kiss Rozanov.

Wait no, just because he’s a boy doesn’t mean he wants to kiss Shane. He probably doesn’t like guys, Shane’s only ever seen him around girls.

That doesn’t mean anything, he shouldn’t assume based on that. Rozanov could have a girlfriend.

The thought of that makes Shane want to throw up his salmon. Why, though? They’re friends. If Rozanov wants a girlfriend, he can have one, Shane isn’t stopping him. He can do whatever he wants and Shane will still be his friend.

But if he gets a girlfriend, will he still walk Shane to class? Of course not, he’ll walk his girlfriend to class. And bring her snacks. And she’ll probably drink coke and wear good smelling lotion and go to parties for longer than an hour and go to his games and wear his shirts and

“Shane!” Jackie’s voice brings him crashing back to Earth. They’re standing, there’s a to go bag in front of Shane.

“You okay?” Jackie asks softly. Shane nods. He’ll be fine if Rozanov gets a girlfriend, he can walk himself to class, it’s fine.

Shane thinks more on the car ride back. 

Is he gay? He probably is. It makes sense if he sits and thinks about his childhood crushes, the poster of Stephen Curry on his wall that he refuses to move and his disdain for wanting to kiss women. These are the requirements for being gay right? He should google it.

He makes it to the 3rd floor, his feet taking him to Ilya’s door at the end of the hall and he knocks softly.

Ilya, in all his Greek God glory, opens the door with flare. His hair dripping wet, bare feet and only a towel over his waist.

Yeah. Shane is gay as fuck. Holy hell.

How has he never noticed Ilya before? He’s all muscles and pretty eyes and smells like a spice Shane can’t think of the name of. They’re friends though, he can be gay and still be friends with Ilya, just like he’s friends with Hayden.

Hayden’s cute but not as cute as Ilya. Shane doesn’t think anyone on Earth is as handsome as Ilya now that he thinks about it. He hasn’t seen everyone on Earth but he’s fairly certain he’s correct about this.

“Is the hallway more fun?” Ilya asks, a teasing smile on his pretty mouth.

Shane turns bright red, ashamed of his obvious ogling and ducks inside so Ilya can shut the door.

“I brought you this.” Shane says, holding up the to go bag, weirdly nervous now. 

Ilya takes the bag from him, his eyes lingering on Shane when he opens it.

“PASTA!!” Ilya exclaims like a kid in the candy store for the first time. He barely gets the lid off before he’s jamming the plastic fork in it and shoveling it into his mouth.

“Eat like you have some sense please.” Shane says, getting napkins out of the bag and handing them to the gremlin in front of him.

Ilya gives him a cheesy grin, taking the napkins and wiping his mouth.

“Thank you, дорогой.” Ilya says. Shane doesn’t understand the Russian word but it makes the tip of his ears hot so he guesses it’s not a slur. At least he hopes not. Would Ilya call him a slur behind his back? Or in a different language where he can’t understand it?

Surely he hasn’t been making fun of Shane this whole time in a different language. He uses Russian randomly around Shane and Shane just guessed it was words Ilya didn’t know the translation for. 

He should ask.

No he shouldn’t.

He should make sure it’s not a slur.

It’s probably not a slur.

“What’s that mean?” Shane asks, taking a seat on his favorite chair in Ilya’s living room.

“What? дорогой?”

Shane nods. Ilya bites his lip, his own face blushing slightly at the question.

“Is it a slur?” Shane asks, feeling himself get a bit upset at the thought of it being a slur. 

“Ah…do not make fun of me.” Ilya says. Shane shakes his head.

“Is pet name. Sweetheart in English.” Ilya says, continuing to eat his pasta while sitting next to Shane. 

Shane smiles a little. So not a slur. Good. Great even. Ilya calls him that quite a bit.

“Say it again?”

“Dorogoy.” Ilya mutters, pinching Shane’s cheek playfully. Shane slaps his hand away.

“Da-ra-goy,” Shane mimics slowly. Ilya lights up.

“Good job, Shane, very good.” Ilya says, ruffling his hair a bit.

They sit at the island for a while, just talking. Shane finds himself very comfortable just talking to Ilya about the most mundane things and Ilya listens like he’ll be quizzed on it later. He watches Shane’s face, his lips, his arm around Shane’s chair, leaning into his space.

Shane can feel his nerves lighting up the closer Ilya gets to him. He accidentally stutters his words, eventually just shutting up and biting his lip.

“Keep going, I was listening,” Ilya says, squeezing Shane’s thigh to encourage him.

Shane swallows.

“Oh um…that was all really, sorry,”

“Sorry for?”

“Rambling…h-how was your night?” He asks, looking at where Ilya’s hand rests on his thigh, thumbing over his knee.

“You are not rambling, I like to hear you speak, your English is so smooth compared to others. I like your voice.”

“M-my voice?” Fuck why is he stuttering, he’s usually not this nervous around Ilya.

“Yes. Very pretty, deep, interesting, I like it. I want to hear you speak all the time, dorogoy.” 

Shane swallows. He might be too gay for this.

“Thank you.” He says, timidly placing his hand over Ilya’s on his thigh. 

Ilya turns his hand over, their palms on top of each other and Ilya intertwines their fingers.

“My night was uneventful. We had practice, I finished my paper if you want to edit it for me, please,” Ilya asks even though Shane edits all his papers before he submits them, he doesn’t have to ask.

“Of course,”

“And I just waited for you to be done with Pike. Want to come to practice in the morning? Is Saturday, you have no classes and we can get breakfast after?” Ilya asks, smoothing his thumb over Shane’s knuckles. The touch is grounding, sweet even.

Shane can only nod, his brain feels like it’s melting out of his ears.

“Good. We can spend the day together, yes?”

“Sure.”

Ilya smiles widely at the confirmation.

Shane leaves after another hour, yawning and leaning his head on Ilya’s shoulder to rest his eyes for a bit.

“I’ll walk you to your room.” Ilya whispers, his arms circling Shane’s body to help him stand.

They walk slowly, Shane for some reason doesn’t want to go inside his room.

“Practice at 9,”

“You’ll be here early, I know.” Shane says, lifting his head from Ilya’s shoulder when they get to his room.

Ilya nods, smiling.

“Good night Shane.” Ilya whispers softly, picking something off of Shane’s hoodie near his neck, his fingers brushing Shane’s skin. Shane shivers under his touch, trying not to overthink why it feels different than any other time.

“Good night Ilya.”

Shane shuts his door, leaning against it.

So many things have happened in such a short amount of time but the thing that stands out the most…he’s had a crush on Ilya this whole time and he barely even registered it until tonight. He didn’t even realize he was gay until a few hours ago but that didn’t seem to matter when he thought about Ilya. He just likes him. Likes having his attention, having him around, having him as part of his routine. He can’t really imagine college now without Ilya outside of his door or his class or at their table at the library. He thinks and considers Ilya in everything he does, like getting him food and fitting their video game time into his schedule, going to sit at the frat house for an hour on party days. 

Fuck. He made a friend only for him to have a crush on him. That’s not good, it might even be weird but he doesn’t care. He’s gonna see him in the morning and everyday afterwards and he’s been perfectly normal about it all this time so why should that change because he’s developed a crush. Ilya doesn’t even like him back.

It’s fine.

It’s all fine.

Ilya has had one goal his entire life: make it to the National Hockey League.

He’s a sure fire. Recruiters are coming to watch their last games of the season and he knows he’s going to be drafted any day now.

College was just something to do, something to get him out of Russia and somewhere he can be surrounded by people who actually liked and admired him. 

The first day of his Sophomore year, when his coach insisted it would look really good if he helped with freshman orientation, he developed a second goal: become someone to Shane Hollander.

Shane with his freckles and dark brown eyes and sharp wit. 

Shane with his knowledge of sports and medicine and perfect English.

Shane with Ilya’s heart in the palm of his hand the second Ilya laid eyes on him.

This one is mine. He thought, silently claiming Shane the second he saw him. 

They are the same age, Ilya just graduated a year early from high school so he could leave Russia. Not that he hates it, it’s his home after all but there was nothing left for him after his mother died. His father got worse, his brother is insufferable and escaping to the small rink in Moscow didn’t work as well as it did when he was younger.

He joined the hockey team in college and immediately made friends with everyone before joining the frat club and making even more friends. They all make him feel welcome and loved and normal. 

Shane too. Shane makes him feel normal and seen and understood. He never comments on Ilya’s broken English or the insane way he inhales meals. He doesn’t judge Ilya when he’s angrily yelling at his brother on the phone when he calls to beg for money Ilya doesn’t want to give him. Shane doesn’t belittle or berate or make Ilya feel small. He listens, spends time with him, talks to him and Ilya, well Ilya kinda fucking loves him.

Love at first sight is an American thing, one of the many things Americans make up like the American dream but it makes sense. 

Ilya has always been bold so asking the counselor for Shane’s schedule for both semesters wasn’t out of the ordinary. Buying 24 packs of ginger ale to keep in his room to bring to Shane every day was completely normal. Learning all of Shane’s favorite snacks, making sure his favorite table at the library was clear and moving his classes around to fit Shane’s schedule so he could walk him everywhere made total sense in his head. A very Ilya thing to do.

Any small sliver of a moment he can get with Shane makes everything else at the boring college seem manageable. Shane makes life seem manageable.

His family doesn’t believe in his hockey dreams but Shane does. He listens to Ilya talk about stats and helps him make charts of his goals. He comes to all of his games now, cheering Ilya on in his favorite seat in the stadium and waving when Ilya waves back. 

And sure he could get a girlfriend. He can look at any girl on campus and bring her back to his dorm, he did it almost every day during his freshman year but he can’t even look at anyone else now that Shane has arrived. 

His friends, frat brothers, teammates, even his coach notices the change in Ilya. He’s happier, he smiles more and is always excited for the day, even early in the morning before Shane’s 8am class, Ilya is up, moving around like sunshine in human form.

Ilya doesn’t know if Shane likes boys. He could be bisexual like Ilya is and has come to terms with in the past year. He could be straight. Ilya would be fine with that, he’d be fine with being Shane’s friend if he got a girlfriend. Sure it would hurt but it would hurt even more to not have any part of him. He’ll take the pieces he has now and be satisfied with it. 

But some days, like today, when Shane is doe eyed and blushed out, sitting close to Ilya and letting Ilya touch and caress him like the delicate flower he is, Ilya wonders if Shane would want more. Would Shane like it if Ilya kissed him? If he kissed his freckles or that cute little scrunch in his nose when he’s studying. Would Shane want to hold Ilya’s hand, wear his jersey to his games, go on dates with him off campus, go on late night drives through the city Ilya feels like he never gets to explore?

These things keep Ilya up at night until he gets to see Shane the next day. He doesn’t ask him any of this, he just takes what Shane gives him and doesn’t ask for more. He doesn’t want to risk losing him if he asks for more. 

Ilya is up early as usual, getting himself ready for practice and to go and get Shane when there’s a knock on his door.

He flings it open, grinning at what he sees.

“Good morning, Ilya.” Shane says sweetly. He still looks a little sleepy, his eyes adorably puffy, his sweatshirt bigger than his shoulders, his bookbag heavy on his back. He hands Ilya a cup and a paper bag.

“Good morning, Shane. You are breaking routine.” Ilya says, trying not to combust with cuteness aggression.

“I couldn’t wait.” Shane says and Ilya knows he’s serious because he doesn’t think Shane is capable of lying.

He couldn’t wait. That does something to Ilya’s heart. 

He lets Shane in while he finishes getting dressed, eating his donut in three bites and sipping the perfectly made coffee. Ilya would die this man, say the word and he’d do it.

“Ready?” He says to Shane instead of the blood oath and Shane nods.

They walk across the campus to the rink, the morning air misty and quiet. Their hands swing next to each other and Ilya is itching out of his skin to take Shane’s hand, to feel it against his own skin like he did last night. He didn’t even want to wash it after Shane left but he did cause he’s not an animal.

“Sleep well?” Ilya says, wanting to hear Shane’s voice.

“Yes. Tossed and turned for a while but yeah. You?”

“Yes. I had sweet dreams.” Ilya says, smiling in reference to his dreams about Shane and his freckles.

Shane turns his head to smile at him. “Me too.” He says, opening the door to the rink and winking at Ilya.

That wink should not have stopped his heart like that but it did and it’s all he can think about while putting on his gear.

Shane sits in the stands, in his usual chair and takes out his binder with his notes. 

Ilya tries very hard to focus on practicing but Shane is much more distracting than he thought. For one, he’s wearing glasses and Ilya didn’t think he had a thing for glasses but he didn’t have a thing for men until he met Shane so, new things happening everyday.

For two, he looks so cute sitting in the stands, chewing on his pen cap and writing every few seconds. His headphones adorably situated on his head, blocking out the loud noise and big brown eyes finding Ilya’s every so often.

Ilya waves when he gets a second, smiling when Shane waves back with a bright smile.

“Boyfriend came to watch huh?” Marlow asks, nudging Ilya as they take a break against the boards.

Ilya swallows.

“Ah, is just Shane. He is my friend.”

“Right, sure, whatever you say, Roz.”

Ilya chews his lip, he feels like everyone is looking at him now.

“Hey, it’s fine. We’re not judging you one bit brother, I’ve always thought he liked you anyway, I never see him at any other parties or around anyone else. It’s cute.” Marlow assures him.

Marlow is easily Ilya’s best friend. He confides in him and Marlow knows when Ilya is feeling down or overwhelmed about his family and makes sure his friend is always smiling and out of his head.

“I am bisexual,” Ilya whispers, out loud to someone other than his reflection. He thinks of his brother's harsh words or how his father would look at him with disgust if he ever said it to them.

Marlow throws an arm around Ilya’s shoulder, kissing his sweaty hair.

“Thanks for telling me, Roz. Really. If anyone gives you shit about it, I’ll kick them out of the house.”

“I haven’t told anyone, not even Shane.”

Marlow smiles. “Well then I’m honored. Your secret is safe with me,”

Ilya swallows the lump in his throat and gives him a watery smile.

“If it means anything, I really do think Shane likes you. I’m not sure which way he swings but he rarely ever takes his eyes off you when you’re not looking. Like right now.”

Ilya looks up and sure enough, Shane is looking at him. He ducks his head quickly and even from the ice, Ilya can see the way Shane is blushing, probably flustered at getting caught.

“See.” Marlow says before skating back to the middle for roundup.

Practice ends shortly after that and Ilya quickly showers and dresses so he doesn’t keep Shane waiting for long.

“Hey Roz,” Marlow calls before Ilya can leave.

“Yes?”

Marlow looks around, waiting until the last guy leaves the locker room before handing Ilya something.

“Here.”

Ilya looks over the paper before looking Marlow up and down.

“I love you but just as friend…”

Marlow smacks his arm.

“No idiot, for you…and Shane. I was gonna take Lena but she’s doing galantines day or whatever the fuck so I thought you might wanna use it. It’s rooftop, overlooks the city, real nice and romantic for Valentine’s Day on Wednesday. Reservation is for 7, I called and put it under your name. If you wanna go. No pressure if not.”

Ilya looks at the restaurant. Valentine's Day. Him. Shane. Dinner. Potential to see if there’s something here.

A date.

This would be a date.

“Do you think he’d want to?” Ilya asks, feeling shyer than he ever has before.

Marlow puts his arm around Ilya’s shoulder, squeezing it.

“I do, Roz. Just ask. The worst he can say is no.”

“And never speak to me again.”

“Then you can wine and dine me.” 

“Ah fuck you. Thank you, Marlow.”

Marlow gives him a dramatic kiss on his head and leaves the locker room.

“Now or never.” Ilya mutters to himself.

Ilya leaves the locker room, going up to the bleachers and planting himself right next to Shane. 

Shane moves his headphones off his head, turning them off and putting them away before turning to Ilya.

“All done?” Shane asks, voice soft and still lingering with exhaustion.

“Yes. Food now? Then maybe nap for the baby?” He asks, pinching Shane’s cheeks playfully even though it’s just an excuse to touch his freckles. Shane slaps his hand away as usual.

“Food yes, caveman.” 

They walk to a little place right outside of campus, sitting across from each other and Ilya slides his foot over Shane’s under the table. Shane locks his ankle around Ilya’s and he feels like he’s won at life.

“How was it? Ready for Monday's game?” Shane asks, looking over the menu before he spots something healthy and gross sounding.

“Me always, the team will follow my lead.”

“Recruiters are going to start coming I hear. I know you wanna be scouted.” Shane says, resting his cheek on his hand to look at Ilya thoughtfully. Ilya gets lost in his eyes for a second before he nods, clearing his throat.

“Yes. Will give me citizenship and I will not have to go back to Russia for a while. Not unless I want.” 

He wants but only to visit his mothers grave and to see his niece, everything else can kick fucking rocks.

“Like for the summer?”

“Yes. I go during the summer. Is nice but…” He trails off, not knowing how to finish the sentence.

“But?” Shane urges.

Ilya looks from his menu and into Shane’s eyes. There’s many things he could say. He likes Canada, likes America, likes college, loves the food, the people, the air, the ability to be himself wholly.

“I am bisexual. I do not think it will go over so well there. I know it won’t. I’d rather just…not.”

Shane perks up a little, suddenly looking less tired than before.

Ilya studies him, looking for judgement and shame.

“Thank you for telling me.” Shane says instead, resting his hand over Ilya’s on the table. Ilya looks at the touch that he can feel deep in his bones. He laces their fingers together like he did last night, trying to stop his hands from shaking.

Shane squeezes his hand, giving Ilya a smile that makes his heart damn near stop.

“Can I tell you something too?” Shane asks.

“Anything, dorogoy.”

“I’m gay.” 

Ilya could jump on the table and screech like a fucking ape.

“Really?” He asks instead, squeezing Shane’s hand as he blushes profusely at his own confession.

“Yeah. I think it’s always been a thought, way in the back of my mind but I didn’t really think too hard about it until…” He stops himself, finding Ilya’s eyes again.

Ilya might be sweating, everything on him feels itchy and like he might throw up.

“Until?” He croaks out.

“Hi gentlemen, what can I get you to drink?” A kind, but interruptive voice says to them. They break the bubble, looking at the waitress and giving her twin smiles.

“Iced tea for me and ginger ale for him please, no ice.” Ilya answers.

The waitress nods.

“You ready to order or do ya need a minute?”

Shane lets go of Ilya’s hand (he dies) to point to what he wants on the menu.

“I will have grand breakfast slam.” Ilya says, ignoring the way Shane scoffs cutely at his eating habits.

“Any substitutions?”

“No ma’am, thank you.” He says, handing her both menus.

There’s a silence between them. Ilya can feel Shane overthinking something and he wants to reach out and grab his hand again.

“Do…hm,” Shane starts then stops, turning red and rubbing his hands together.

Ilya sits up, looking at him patiently, giving him a soft, encouraging smile that could be a blistering grin, he doesn’t know.

“You look so eager,” Shane quips, settling himself.

“Eager to hear your words, yes.”

Shane chews on his lip, Ilya reaches his hand out across the table. Shane wipes his palm on his pants and slips his hand back into Ilya’s.

“Do you…have plans on Wednesday?” Shane asks shyly, still tomato red like the words are eating him alive. Ilya’s heart melts terribly, he’s so gone and there’s no getting him back.

“Wednesday? I am walking a cute boy to class and then practice at 3pm. After that, no, no plans.”

Shane nods.

“Cute huh?” He pushes his glasses up then snatches them off.

“Nooo, don’t ruin my life like that, put them back,” Ilya whines dramatically. 

“They’re for reading, I forgot I had them on,” Shane says, reaching for his tote.

“No, you are so cute with them, like kitten, leave them be.”

Shane shakes his head.

“Do you know what Wednesday is?” He continues, not meeting Ilya’s eye.

“The 14th?”

“Yeah…Valentine's Day.”

“I’ve heard this, yes,”

“I was thinking maybe–” He’s cut off again when the waitress sets their drinks in front of them, smiling hard at Ilya.

Ilya almost wants to tell her to go the fuck away but his mama didn’t raise him to be rude.

She walks away and he squeezes Shane’s hand so he doesn’t lose his nerve.

“I was thinking, maybe you’d wanna hang out maybe. Like I know we usually hang out anyway but maybe we go out like off campus…we don’t have to! I just…sorry,”

Ilya wants to die from how cute he’s being.

“Shane,” He says, wanting Shane to meet his eyes. Shane hums, not looking at him.

Ilya moves from his booth to sit next to Shane, taking his chin in his hands and tilting his face up so he looks at him.

Shane’s eyes are a bit blown, the nervousness running all through him.

“I have this reservation–”

“Oh you have plans, of course, it’s totally fine, it’s a special day, why spend it with me, no yeah, I get it–”

Ilya’s grip tightens slightly, getting Shane to breathe just a bit.

“Breathe Shane, listen,”

Shane just nods, Ilya can see his eyes rimming with tears, he should speak quicker.

“I have reservation for somewhere. I forget name, is for dinner. I was going to ask if you wanted to go, with me, on Valentines’ Day.”

Shane blinks, eyes round and wet.

“Really?” He whispers breathlessly.

“Yes. Is special day,”

“I’m sure you have other people you can ask,”

“I am asking you. Are you saying no?” Ilya says, trying really hard not to be hurt by the rejection.

“No! I mean yes! I want to go, with you, on special day. Please.”

Ilya wants to kiss him but he doesn’t want their first kiss to be in a booth at a diner.

“Then we will go. I will drive and pick you up like a gentleman.”

“You don’t have a car.”

“Marlow has a car. He will let me borrow it.” Ilya assures him, kissing his cheek and going back to his side of the boothe just as the food comes out.

“You should ask first.” Shane mutters.

“We have a date.” Ilya informs the waitress so she stops making eyes at him. Her face falls slightly.

“Oh that’s nice.” She says, setting the food down and walking away.

“A date…” Shane says, picking up his fork and smiling.

“Yes. We are having our first date. We will dress up and look very nice. I will pick you up and bring flowers and you can order anything you want, I have a credit card.”

“I’m paying.” Shane darts his eyes at him.

“Only tonight in your sleep when you dream of me.” Ilya says, forking through his syrup covered plate of food.

Shane groans, rolling his eyes.

“And then, not even there. I will still pay.”

Shane stands in the mirror, flushed, still warm from his shower and panicking between two shirts. 

He chews on his lip, holding one against his bare chest and then another then back and forth again. 

Which one is best for a date? He can’t figure it out, he’s never been on a date. This is his very first fucking date ever.

As a gay man, you’d think he’d know this but he apparently didn’t get his fashion card.

He holds both shirts up again, trying to decide between the light pink and the light blue. He thinks about it too hard and sets both down, reaching for his phone to call the first number he can think of.

“Hey son. How are you?”

His dad, of course he calls the only other man in his life.

“Dad, hey,” He hasn’t told his parents about his revelation, he’s only told Ilya. 

“You’re alright?”

“Yes I–yes. I have a question.”

“Shoot son, I’m all ears,” He can hear the giddy grin in his dads voice. David Hollander has always just been Shane’s dad. He’s never been too overbearing like his mom or too enthusiastic also like his mom. He’s the calm between Shane and Yuna, the grounding force. He never forces anything and always just lets Shane come to him so it’s hard for him to hide his excitement when Shane actually does come to him.

“Is mom around?”

“No, she is out with the girls for Galantines Day. They’re day drinking, I may have to get her at some point but I’m alone,”

Shane switches to facetime, smiling when he sees his father for the first time in weeks. David smiles back.

“Help me decide, I’m going…well I have a date.”

“A date?! How wonderful son, where are you going?”

“Um…a restaurant he picked,” Shane snaps his mouth shut, he meant to use a neutral pronoun, shit.

“Oh how lovely! Do you need some money? Here, I’ll put some in your account, give me a second,” David gets close to the camera, putting his glasses on and clicking around. Shane’s phone pings and his account balance is

“Dad?! I don’t need that much, Jesus Christ.”

“You never know, son, you might want to impress him with fancy champagne and caviar, you need money for that.”

Shane blushes, listening to his dad just use the male pronoun with no questions feels like a relief he didn’t realize he needed.

He holds the camera up against the lamp, picking up the shirts.

“Which one?”

David hums, looking as Shane switches between the two.

“The blue one brings out your eyes a bit more but the pink is very on theme. I like both but if it were me, I’d go with the blue. Which suit are you wearing?”

“The grey one. I haven’t worn it yet so I figured I’d break it in.”

“Excellent choice my boy. Go with the blue. Snap some pics for your mom, she’s gonna be pissed she missed this.”

“I’ll send some, I promise,” Shane pauses, putting the shirt on and showing his dad.

“Good look. Wear that watch I gave you, yeah that’s the one,” David approves as Shane slides on his wrist watch.

Shane puts on his jacket, straightening and then restraightening and then straightening again.

“It looks great son! Really great, what a lucky guy!”

Shane scoffs, blushing slightly as he picks up the phone.

“You’re not…mad right? I was gonna tell you guys I just–”

“Mad? About what?”

Shane swallows. “Me being…gay?”

“You’re gay?”

“Yes dad. I’m…gay.”

“And why would we be mad about that?”

Shane ducks his head, chewing his lip raw.

“Hey son, look at me,” David says softly.

Shane tries, his eyes watering slowly, hands trembling.

“Shane, sweetheart, that’s fine. It’s great even, whoever he is, he’s so lucky to know you. I’m proud of you and I won’t tell your mother until you do. It’s okay son, it’s all fine. I love you very much, thank you for telling me.”

Shane nods, giving his dad a watery smile.

“Thanks dad.”

“Have the best time on your date. Send pics please, your mother would kill both of us if she didn’t have evidence of our baby's first date.”

Shane rolls his eyes.

“God, okay, bye dad, thank you, love you.”

“Love you very much son, have the best time.”

Shane waves, hanging up and grabbing his wallet, keys and going to the kitchen to get the flowers he’d bought. They were yellow lilies with blue peonies. The colors reminded him of Ilya, how bright his eyes were, how pretty his smile was and how similar it was to the sun.

Shane smiles just thinking of him.

He looks at himself in the mirror, fussing over his fresh hair cut before there’s a knock on his door.

Shane exhales a deep breath, opening the door slowly. 

Ilya, in all of his Greek god glory is standing on the other side of it, leaning against the frame while he looks over his nails, his other hand behind his back as he looks up at Shane, his eyes dilating immediately.

“Wow, wow.” Ilya breathes out, looking Shane up and down, his throat bobbing.

Shane fidgets a little, shifting on his feet while he looks over Ilya. He looks so damn good. And smells good too.

He’s wearing a black jacket, a yellow shirt under his jacket and a bowtie that’s a little crooked. Like he didn’t have anyone to straighten it for him.

Shane takes a step forward, straightening Ilya’s bowtie and smiling at him. Ilya returns the smile with one of his own. It’s shy and Shane thinks no one should get to see it but him.

“You are beautiful.” Ilya whispers, eyes casted down before he looks back up at Shane.

Shane blushes, stepping back and spinning around.

“My dad bought me this,” Shane tells him, proud of it. Ilya beams at him, taking Shane's hand with his free one and kissing his knuckles. He moves his other hand from his back and presents a large bouquet of flowers. Shane thinks he melts into a puddle, they’re beautiful. Red roses, surrounded by white lilies and carnations. It’s so pretty, it makes him tear up.

He takes them, setting them on the counter and going into the kitchen to bring back his set, presenting them to Ilya.

Ilya’s smile is so wide, Shane can see all of his teeth.

“These are for me?” He teases, hands shaking as he takes them, looking over every petal, his fingers caressing them.

“No they’re for another really hot Russian guy, I just wanted you to see them,” Shane jokes back, hoping it was taken as an actual joke.

Ilya smiles impossibly wider, leaning forward to kiss Shane’s cheek.

“You think I am hot?” He whispers against Shane’s cheek. Shane’s head falls on his shoulder as he nods, blushing.

“Yeah. I think you’re gorgeous.” Shane whispers, admitting it and hoping Ilya understands it holds a deeper meaning than just surface.

Ilya kisses the side of his face again, lifting Shane by his chin.

“We go, yes? I am excited.” Ilya says, taking Shane’s hand, setting his flowers on the table next to Shane and leaving the building.

They walk hand in hand to Marlows’ truck, Ilya unlocking and opening the door for Shane to get into the passenger seat.

Shane reaches over, unlocking and pushing the driver's side open for Ilya to climb in.

They ride in comfortable silence, Ilya’s hand intertwined with Shane while Shane fiddles with the radio, finding something classical to put on.

Shane tells Ilya about his love for classical music and Ilya tells him about his love of Russian classics. They share music opinions, laughing about how much they have in common outside of school as Ilya pulls into a restaurant. He valets the car, never letting go of Shane’s hand as they’re escorted up an escalator to the rooftop. 

Shane is mesmerized by everything he sees. The place is much nicer than he expected, almost Hollywood esc. The nice hostess gives them a table away from others, giving them a perfect view on Montreal. Shane looks out at the skyline, sighing at how beautiful it is.

“Incredible.” He muses.

“Yes, very.” Ilya mutters. Shane turns his attention back to find Ilya staring at him, smiling hard and not looking at the view.

“I meant the view.”

“Yes, my view is very incredible, you should see it,”

Shane chuckles, wanting to duck and hide but knowing he can’t fight the feeling brewing in his chest.

He’s here, with a gorgeous, kind man on Valentines Day, what is there to hide from?

“Did I tell you that you looked beautiful?” Ilya asks, his head resting on his hands.

“Yes. I could stand to hear it again if you wanna repeat it,” Shane says lightly.

“You are beautiful, Shane. I am lucky.” 

“Not luckier than I am.” Shane says firmly, meeting Ilya’s eyes in time to watch him blush in real time. God he’s mesmerizing.

They look at the menu.

“They have salmon, the plain kind and all the vegetables, I looked ahead to make sure. I will be ordering steak.”

“I eat steak too, you know?”

Ilya scoffs. “How was I to know, all I see you eat is rabbit food. Order whatever you want, великолепный.”

“What’s that mean?” Shane asks.

“Means gorgeous.” Ilya tells him with no hesitation.

Shane smiles, feeling that word down to his toes.

They order sparkling juice since neither of them are old enough for champagne and oysters at Shane’s insistence.

“When I was little, we used to go to Florida all the time and they had the freshest fish. Just try it, I swear it’s delicious.”

Ilya’s nose is turned up at the display but he’ll do it because Shane is asking. He watches as Shane puts lemon and some seed looking things on his shell and slurps it out of the shell in one go.

“Ah, what the hell?”

“Try it, baby,” Shane says, pushing the tray towards him and smiling. Ilya can’t resist.

He does exactly what he saw Shane do and slurps it with his eyes closed. His eyebrows raise as he opens his eyes.

“Ah, that is actually good. I like it,” Ilya says, smiling and reaching for another one. 

“See, I knew you would,” Shane beams. Ilya wants to kiss him. Shane knows him, he knows him and what he’d like. 

“You are very persuasive.” He teases, trying to scrub the constant blush from his face.

Shane shrugs, smirking. 

They order food for them to share. A steak, salmon, a salad, French fries, their table is full as they pass things back and forth, talking with an ease that comes from years of knowing one another and not the few months they actually have. 

Shane is smiling more than he thinks he ever has and Ilya is laughing like he hasn’t since his mother died.

Ilya insists on taking a picture of Shane in front of the skyline, sending it to him in exchange for his number which he’s surprised he hasn’t had this entire time.

“I have to send one to my parents, please hold,” Shane tells him like the polite Canadian boy he is. Ilya just watches him fondly.

“You told them you had date, yes?”

Shane nods, putting his phone away, a cute blush creeping up his neck.

“Yeah that and…” He pauses, Ilya waits.

“I told my dad I’m gay. My mom was out but I’m sure she’ll call tomorrow once she finds out her only child had his first date,”

“This is your first date? Like ever?” Ilya leans up on the table, finishing off the last piece of steak at Shane’s insistence, his eyes filled with wondrous confusion.

“Um–yeah. I was too focused on grades during high school to really date and no one interests me until…” 

Ilya raises his eyebrows.

“No one interest me until you.” There’s a slew of things Shane wants to add to that sentence but he can’t find anymore words with Ilya looking at him like he just went outside and brought him a piece of the moon.

“Really?” Ilya asks softly, like he’s afraid Shane will take it back. Shane instead, reaches across the table to take Ilya’s hand.

“Yeah.”

Ilya wants to kiss him.

“So you think I am interesting? Even when if I don’t eat your boring fish?” He jokes, just to see Shane smile.

“Yes, I do. But I give you points for at least trying it.”

Anything for you. Ilya thinks but doesn’t say. 

The waitress comes to clear their plates and another one sets down a plate with a cheesecake big enough for two. There’s a candle in the middle and Happy Anniversary is written across the top of the plate in chocolate.

“Happy Anniversary, you two. You’re adorable.” The waitress says with a smile.

“Oh wait–” Shane starts.

“Um what–” Ilya finishes but she’s already gone.

They look at the cheesecake. It’s a chocolate swirled with something else. Vanilla maybe. It looks delicious.

The candle burns brightly between them as they lock eyes, neither of them knowing what to do.

“Have you ever had cheesecake?” Shane asks, needing it to be something other than silent. He’s surprised it’s not awkward.

“Is that what this is?” Ilya asks, looking at it curiously.

“Yeah. Looks like chocolate,”

“I’m a fan of chocolate,”

“Did you make this reservation under an anniversary?” Shane asks, scared that he isn’t the person that’s supposed to be here with Ilya. He doesn’t want Ilya to hear his heart shattering.

“Ah no, Marlow actually had this and gave it to me–Marlow that mutherfucker…” Ilya pulls out his phone, firing off several texts.

Ilya to C. Mardawg

You asshole

Anniversary?
I am so embarrassed, they brought a cake made of cheese

I’m going to kill you 😡

Marlow to RoseFucker

Whoops.

Oh no.

Did I do that

*reads paper* I am so sorry for my actions, I did not mean to cause harm

Figured I’d get the ball rolling for ya Rozy 😉

Ilya pockets his phone and looks at Shane. He’s smiling bashfully. Ilya tries to return it.

“Did he set this as an anniversary?” Shane asks carefully. Ilya nods, turning his phone so Shane can see the evidence. 

Shane blinks at the last message.

“What’s he mean by that?”

Ilya sighs, running a hand through his curls.

“He did this on purpose, so I will get courage to ask you out again. I’m going to kill him, don't worry, just write to me in jail.”

Shane laughs, his cheeks reaching the creases in his eyes and Ilya is really in love with him.

Shane reaches across the table but then decides that won’t work. He leans up, getting right in Ilya’s face. Ilya leans into him.

“You wanna ask me out again?”

“I want so much.” Ilya admits, having Shane this close to him makes him brave.

“How about being my boyfriend? So we can have more dates…and maybe have an actual anniversary one day?”

Ilya leans forward more, their noses brushing.

“Yes, but only if you kiss me fi–” He’s cut off when Shane brings their lips together softly.

It’s reverent at first, testing before it melts into knowing and understanding and longing. Shane makes a soft noise and that only makes Ilya’s mouth open under his so he can have more.

Shane pulls back after a minute, pecking Ilya softly before sitting back in his chair.

Ilya swallows, sitting back and wiping the sweat from his brow.

“I could run a fucking lap.” He mutters, Shane giggles.

“Wanna blow the candle out?”

Ilya nods, not being able to recall the last time he got to do that.

Shane smiles, clapping softly before picking up his fork and cutting the first piece, turning the fork to Ilya.

“Open,” Shane says, Ilya obeys, eating the piece and thinking about the taste.

“I change my mind, I would like to be the cake made of cheese’s boyfriend, святое дерьмо.” Ilya moans, eyes rolling back as Shane laughs.

“No take backs, you’re mine now.” Shane says, taking his own bite and then giving another one to Ilya.

Ilya smiles around the fork, taking Shane’s free hand with his.

“Yes, yours now.”

Shane smiles back. Happy Anniversary indeed.

Five years later

Of all the things Shane expected from college, making friends with a Russian, frat boy hockey player was not on that list. 

Dating, proposing to and then marrying said Russian, frat hockey boy, was not even something he could even conjure up in his mind as a possibility.

Said Russian, formally frat, hockey boy being drafted to the NHL and becoming one of the best centers in the league. Watching Ilya on the ice one time and he could have predicted that.

Shane sits in his favorite seat at the stadium in Boston, watching Ilya intently as he takes the puck down the ice, passing it to Marlow and then having it passed back so he can score.

Shane, like the rest of the stadium, goes fucking wild when his husband scores his fourth goal during this game, giving his team, the Raiders, a three point advantage.

Shane beams, watching as Ilya skates around with a proud smile on his face. He can see Ilya looking for him so he sits up, trying to catch his eye.

Ilya’s smile gets wider when he spots Shane, waving frantically as Shane waves back. Ilya’s eyes cut to Shane’s parents, waving frantically at them as they wave back.

It’s time for face off again and Ilya turns back to his game. Shane just watches him, sending him good loving energy so they can win.

Shane has one more year left of school to complete his Masters but he makes sure he makes it to all of the home games and the games in Canada, where they split their time.

Shane is so proud of him, he knows Ilya is just as proud of him. He’s so glad they lived in the same building.