Chapter Text
People thought they knew Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander. They saw them as opposites, like fire and ice. When they were on the ice it was a show. Rozanov would check Hollander, they would chirp and roast each other. The animosity between Hollander and Rozanov was so strong that it not only filled up the arenas but sold them out. The media loved writing about Hollander vs. Rozanov. The fans picked sides. But nobody really knew what was really going on between Ilya and Shane.
Nobody knew that Ilya and Shane had stolen nights and more recently days. Ilya always looked so serious. But when he was with Shane his face would change and he would not only smile but was truly happy and in love. Ilya and Shane had to keep their relationship a secret because they were opponents, actually not just opponents, it was a heated rivalry since at least their first season playing against each other on the two teams with the biggest rivalry: the Montreal Voyageurs and the Boston Bears.
So when Ilya flew to Ottawa without telling anyone he was really going to see Shane at his cottage by the lake. This was one more secret part of the story of Ilya and Shane. Ilya and Shane liked to spend time together and this trip was just another one of their secret meetings, only it would be two weeks alone, no interruptions.
Shane was driving down the country road that led from Ottawa to his cottage. The road was stretching out in front of him under a sky that looked gloomy like Ilya in the public eye. Ilya was sitting in the passenger seat making fun of Shane for being too Canadian at a four-way stop. After stopping at a gas station because Ilya needed candy and there’s no way Mr. Boring bird food boy had unhealthy shit at his cottage.
Ilya took over driving as Shane was getting a headache. They were both having a good time listening to Ilya’s ridiculous nonchalant playlist about Jane. Ilya even took his eyes off the road for a second to adjust the volume. Then he saw the headlights of a pickup truck coming towards them. The truck was not in its lane. It was too late.
There was no time for sound. Just a loud crash, a lot of breaking glass and bending metal. Then it was completely quiet. The quiet was so silent that it was, like a sound itself.