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“I’m getting married today.”
Leaning against the doorframe in the corner of the room, Kip smiled.
Ilya Rozanov was a ball of energy, bouncing around the room even as David Hollander tried to corral him and Kip could understand why.
“I know.” He said as David made another aborted attempt to straighten Ilya’s tie.
“No. I’m getting married!” Ilya replied, each word enunciated, as if he was trying to stress every single syllable.
“We know Roz!” Cliff Marlow said from his position lounging on the bed. The man was grinning as wide as everyone else in the room. “You haven’t shut up about it since we all came in here.”
Next to him, Troy Barrett nodded in agreement, a small smile on his own handsome face as he found amusement in his Captains antics.
The five of them had locked themselves in the large bedroom to help the groom get ready an hour ago. Well, four of them had.
Kip technically wasn’t part of the wedding party but had been dragged into the room 30 minutes before by an exasperated Troy. At that point, Ilya wasn’t even wearing pants and had been pointedly refusing to take his medication, loudly claiming he didn’t want to be unable to perform for his husband.
Kip had been so glad when he learnt Ilya was finally addressing his mental health struggles. He had seen the deterioration in his friend over the first season of Hockey since his move and had felt powerless to help, being all the way back in New York. He had been close, more than once, to hopping on a flight to Ottawa to see the man when it got bad. So to learn that Ilya had taken the steps to get professional help and get himself diagnosed had been a huge relief.
Yes, the anti-depressants he had been put on sucked and Kip was sure Ilya routinely made his therapist's life hell. But he also knew that Ilya had worked hard to get on the correct dosage now and after taking them daily since, the possibility of any side effects tonight were negligible. And even if they were, it was better than the alternative.
Calmly, Kip had done his job talking Ilya into taking the pills and getting the man to put pants on.
Ilya, the little shit he was, had tried to bargain that he only would if Shane requested he did and yes, Kip had conceded to a point. He had allowed Ilya to call Shane, who was in the guest bedroom on the other side of the house to order the man to get dressed but he drew the line at Shane coming to the room to make Ilya put pants on. He wasn’t superstitious but he knew every other person in the room was (Stupid Hockey superstitions. At least Kip had managed to talk Scott out of his ‘No sex during Play Offs’ belief) So Shane was not allowed in the room. Which meant Ilya was testing everyone’s patience.
Not that anyone else was unwelcome. A woman who Ilya had called Svetlana, had turned up as Ilya had been swallowing down his pills and shouted at him in Russian. Kip had been a little taken aback but the smile on Ilya's face and the way he had hugged the woman once she had finished ranting at him had quickly put to rest his fears a murder was about to take place.
Kip was also fairly sure the entire Centaur’s roster had been through that door at least twice already, the group marching between Ilya and Shane’s rooms like an army trying to claim territory. And more importantly, avoid any more manual labour.
Yuna Hollander, Shane’s mom, had delighted at putting any available guests to work before the ceremony was due to start, helping to set out the food, (she was lamenting the lack of chairs) and moving potted plants and flowers around the large garden where the wedding would take place. The Centaurs, when not able to dodge by bursting in on their Captain or their future player, had also been put to work and the garden was full of very strong, very attractive men moving equipment around and hanging up decorations as their wives and partners watched on and chatted. Several kids ran around, screaming and laughing and crashing into each other and Ilya’s dog, Anya. The whole atmosphere was festive and joyful.
Kip and Scott had joined in to help when they first arrived and Kip had even joked with Yuna, before he had been summoned away from the chaos, that she would never need movers again, since she had an entire hockey team to command. Yuna had just smiled before telling Scott to handle the rest and finally excusing herself to go and check on her son.
Between tasks, Kip had happily chatted with his husband and been introduced to the other players in attendance. He had even gotten to say hello to Luca Haas.
The kid, who Ilya had introduced to Kip at the start of the previous Hockey season, had become a regular at the Kingfisher whenever the team was in town, despite technically still being underage in America (Kip was almost certain Kyle was slipping him drinks when no one was watching, not that it was Kip’s responsibility anymore. He had stopped working at the Kingfisher except for the occasional emergency shift, ever since he had managed to get a job at the Museum of Natural History but he did want Eric and Scott to keep the bars liquor licence) and had even stayed in Scott and Kip’s guest bedroom one time, when he had been brought to New York for his first ever sponsorship event.
Luca was a charming kid and had even taken a liking to Rugby, coming to several of Kip’s games when in town, with and without any other hockey players. Well liking the game may be incorrect but Luca had definitely taken a liking to one of Kip’s teammates, a young man called Sammy Cunningham who was roughly Luca’s age, if Kip wasn’t mistaken.
Sadly, Kip’s enquiries on that particular issue had been cut short as he had been discovered by Troy, who had whispered a stressed ‘We need you inside’ and dragged into the house to help put the fire out.
Thankfully, after that first little blow up about the medication and the subsequent phone call to Shane (Which had to be cut short when they began to suspect Ilya was saying dirty words in Russian), Ilya had calmed down a little and they had managed to get him almost dressed. It was just the pesky tie which was alluding them.
Kip wasn’t surprised. He could tie a tie but on his own wedding day, had found the skill mysteriously disappearing. Still, it would help if Ilya paused his frantic pacing for just a few seconds to allow David to fix it.
Glancing over at Marlow and Barrett on the bed, Kip faintly wondered if they were going to have to physically restrain Ilya to get the job done when Ilya suddenly turned on his heels and wordlessly marched into the ensuite, slamming the door behind him.
“Shit.” Marlow muttered, rising from his seat. “There he goes.”
“I’ll go in.” Kip said, stepping forward. “You guys keep getting ready.”
The others let him. Troy and Marlow, despite everything, were hockey players and a bit emotionally stupid and David was looking a little stressed by Ilya’s behaviour. All of them had shed their own jackets and ties in the scramble to get Ilya ready and the clock was ticking down to the moment they all needed to step out of the room and into the garden. Better to give them a small rest and let Kip handle whatever was going through Ilya’s head.
Briefly, Kip wondered if anything nearly as chaotic was going on in Shane’s room. Shane had his mom, as well as Hayden Pike and J.J. Boiziau and Rose Landry with him so Kip was sure it was fine.
Hayden was fairly good at managing Shane’s moods from years of practice and Rose wouldn’t take any shit from him. Kip knew that from the few times he had met the woman, both when she had come to the Kingfisher for Scott’s birthday as Gloria Grey’s friend and when he and Scott had been invited to the premier of her new movie. And J.J….
Kip was honestly glad Shane had managed to save his friendship with J.J. (even if Scott had gained a penalty for roughly body checking the man the first time New York faced Montreal after the two had been outed and still didn’t seem interested in apologising. Kip’s husband could hold a hell of a grudge when he wanted to) and the man was firmly back in Shane’s corner.
The whole fallout after the video was leaked had been unpleasant for both Shane and Ilya and like Scott had predicted, Crowell had unsuccessfully tried to threaten them into silence so having his friend back on his side had been important to Shane.
The unpleasantness had also been in the locker room of the Montreal team and Kip was thankful that Shane had finally decided to cut his losses and sign with Ottawa. (He was sure his husband had some part in pointing Shane in that direction, but he wasn’t going to say anything. Word had already gotten out about the contract and to say the rest of the Hockey world was in absolute meltdown would be an understatement. The idea of the two greatest players in the League not only being married but playing on the same team, a team which just made the playoffs for the first time in years, was enough to send a shiver of dread down even the most hardened veteran players' spines. Montreal was still being criticised for allowing Shane to leave and the club was scrambling to try and justify Shane’s move in a way that hid their homophobia)
Reaching the door to the ensuite, Kip knocked on the wood. He waited a moment to see if there would be any reply and when he was only met with silence, he opened the door and slipped inside.
Ilya was seated on the lid of the toilet, his head ducked down, hands clasped before him. He was wringing his hands in a nervous gesture and his leg was bouncing up and down.
Despite their attempt with the tie, Ilya’s gold crucifix had slipped out from under his shirt collar and was dangling, the faint light flashing off the gold.
He didn't even glance up as Kip closed the door behind him, blocking them from the outside world. The man was too lost in his own head.
Stepping forward, Kip sank to his knees on the cold tiles next to his friend. In any normal room, he wouldn't have done such a reckless thing, fearing for his suit pants but this room was Shane Hollander approved, which meant it was guaranteed to be spotless. Besides, Ilya needed some humanity right now.
“Hey.” Kip said in a low voice. “What's wrong?”
“I’m getting married.” Ilya finally said. His voice was quiet, unlike his normal loud and abrash self.
“Yeah, I kinda guessed that.” Kip replied. “The guests and the justice of the peace standing around outside kinda gave it away.”
Ilya sighed. His hands stopped their frantic twitching and instead, he buried them in his blonde curls which Kip knew had taken a lot of time to tame. Oh well.
“I never thought we would get here.” He muttered.
Kip nodded.
“A decade is a long time.” He agreed. “But you guys made it.”
Ilya finally glanced up at him. There was something in his eye which made Kip weary. Not joy or excitement, which Kip had expected, but sadness.
Almost absentmindedly, Ilya reached to grip the cross at his neck. Kip glanced between it and the man. He knew the necklace had been inherited from his mother and Ilya had worn it every day for years. And it was also a symbol of his homeland. A place he could no longer return to.
Kip didn’t know too much about Ilya’s family back in Russia. He knew both his friend's parents had passed away, his father only a few years ago (It had been all over the news, when Ilya had disappeared at the end of a game to travel back to Russia suddenly) and his mother when he was a child. Kip didn’t know the specifics other than what had been released in the statement about the Irina Foundation, that Ilya’s mother had suffered severe mental health issues and he didn’t know the full circumstances of her death, but he suspected she had taken her own life and Ilya may have been the one to find her after.
He knew that Ilya had a brother but given the man refused to talk about it, he guessed they weren’t close. Maybe even estranged. And given Russia’s increasingly draconian laws in relation to the LGTB+ community, Kip knew Ilya had basically been forced to cut any ties to his homeland for his own safety.
Faintly, Kip wondered if Ilya was missing his family. In a perfect world, they should be here, by his side for what is arguably the biggest moment of his life (Kip was very aware that some Hockey players would say otherwise. Winning the Stanley Cup was definitely better according to some) but Kip was a realist. He had what many would consider the dream family. Parents who loved him, friends who supported him and everyone he cared for at his wedding. That was not going to be the same for Ilya.
Yes, he had his friends. His found family, those who had managed to breach his tough exterior and meet the gentle person underneath the armour. But his blood family, the people who had been there first, were absent. Either through death or choice. And that sucked.
“Hey.” Kip said, reaching for Ilya’s hand which was clutched around the cross. “We are here with you. You know that.”
Ilya blinked at him and Kip could see the understanding in his blue eyes. But he wouldn’t be Ilya Rozanov if he didn’t bite back a little.
“Of course my family is here.” He said firmly. It wasn’t exactly true but if it got Ilya out of his spiral, Kip was going to let it be.
“Sure.” he confirmed.
“David is like my papa now.” Ilya continued. “And I have brothers. Marly is like big brother to me.”
“Of course.” Kip nodded along, encouraging. Finally understanding what the man was saying.
“Barrett is younger, annoying sibling. And you…” Ilya glanced at Kip and Kip knew there was a chirp coming.
“You are little brother.” The man finished.
“I’m three years older than you.” Kip pointed out.
Ilya smirked.
“Yes.” He agreed. Then he placed a hand on Kip’s head, as if pointing out their height difference. “Still little brother.”
“Fuck you.” Kip said, trying to suppress his laughter.
“Sorry. You missed that chance. I’m about to be married.” The Russian star shot back, quick as a whip, which broke the wall holding back Kip’s laughter.
Ilya laughed along with him and some of the tension left the room.
“And Shane is most important. He is the love of my life.” Ilya added. His smile slipped into something softer, more loving.
“And today, you get to marry him.” Kip added.
Ilya turned his blue eyes on him again.
“Thank you.” He said simply.
Kip furrowed his brow in confusion.
“What?” He asked.
“Thank you.” Ilya repeated. “I was ready to end this. Ready to go back to Russia. I thought there was no other option for me. Then you and Hunter showed things could work for me too.”
Kip nodded in understanding. It wasn’t the first time he had been thanked for the spontaneous actions of his husband, but it still made him feel warm every time he was approached by people. It didn’t matter who it was. His and Scott's actions had changed lives.
“Well, thank you for being so welcoming to me at the MHL Awards, when I was terrified and unsure what I had gotten myself into and offering to be my friend.” He replied. Because Ilya had helped him almost as much.
Ilya, the troll he was, simply shrugged.
“I only did that to annoy your geriatric husband, hoping he would retire and stop embarrassing himself.” he said.
Kip reached over and punched him on the arm.
“You are such an asshole.” He said as Ilya let out a mock yelp of pain. As he drew back his hand, he caught a glimpse at the gold watch (a Christmas present from Scott) on his wrist. And more importantly, the time.
“Shit. We need to get you ready. It's almost time for you to get out there.”
Ilya nodded. Finally, he released his grip on the cross, letting it fall against his shirt and off-center tie.
“Right.” he said. “Time to go.”
He stood up and Kip rose too, watching as Ilya turned to face the mirror.
With practiced hands, the man pushed his hair back from his face, the gel he had put in it earlier helpful to fix the damage his nervous hands had caused. Then he tucked the necklace back under the collar of his shirt, hiding it from view but keeping it close to his heart. Where his loved ones would always rest.
Turning back to Kip, he raised an eyebrow in question, as if asking ‘Ready?’
Kip reached forward and straightened the tie, making sure it was resting correctly. After all that fuss, it actually was tied correctly. Looks like they had all caught Ilya’s nerves in the moment.
“You look good. Shane is a lucky man.” He confirmed. “Now, we had better get out there. I think David had something to say to you before the ceremony.”
Ilya nodded and turned to open the door, slipping out of the bathroom and back into the larger bedroom.
Kip followed him out to see the other three men already crowded around Ilya, trying to fix up the last little bits of his outfit, not that it was really needed. The tie was perfect and Kip prided himself that he had done a good job. David was muttering something to Ilya which Kip couldn’t hear but he was sure it was good, judging by the smile and the way Ilya nodded along.
Troy even glanced up at him, giving him a small nod of thanks.
Knowing the crisis was now over and he was no longer needed, Kip slipped from the room, heading back to the garden where he knew Scott was probably completing the remaining tasks with the efficiency of a drill instructor (or the captain of a professional hockey team)
It was time.
—----
In the end, the ceremony was a mixture of sweet and chaotic that was completely on brand for Shane and Ilya.
The two said their vows, rings were exchanged and they kissed in front of a cheering crowd. Kip spied Yuna wiping a tear away and even the more stoic members of the audience looked misty eyed. Kip knew for a fact, that Scott was shaking with emotions, given the faint tremble he could feel from his husband's hand, clasped in his own.
Once the formal ceremony was over, the party began. Food and drink were passed around as the sun set and Yuna’s decorations became illuminated by fairy lights. Someone had found a Bluetooth speaker and music played softly in the background, almost completely drowned out by the chatter.
Kip had found himself and Scott being almost wooed by Harris Drover, who had been keen to get the owner of the most famous gay bar in New York (Harris’ words) to try his family’s cider. Kip was almost certain Harris was winning Scott over to the idea of stocking it at the Kingfisher and to be fair, it was very good. Troy Barrett had also joined them, although Kip suspected it was more to stop Harris from chatting their ears off than really joining the conversation. The man stood by, almost silent and yet, occasionally throwing a smitten glance at Harris. If Kip was correct, he would guess there would be another Centaur’s wedding soon enough.
He would have to ask Harris in a few weeks time, when they all met up again for the Game Changers Camps.
Shane and Ilya had carefully planned their wedding and time off, heading out to their honeymoon in only a day's time, which would give them a week's break before they had to come back for the camps and then straight into the pre-season where Shane would officially step out onto the ice as an Ottawa Centaur.
It was going to be exciting, since it was also going to be Scott’s first time coaching with the group, all of whom he had already recruited into his alliance of Hockey Players (Ilya had tried to call it the Gay Avengers and Scott was definitely hoping that name didn’t stick) Troy too, was joining the coaching team and Kip had learnt, Harris was offering some of his time helping behind the scenes, the same as Kip.
And it was going to be particularly important to have as many people as possible when they went to Montreal.
As much as Shane was hesitant to think about his former home, it looked like the city had not forgotten its favourite son. And in general, the fans were not as hostile as its team. Interest in the camp had exploded after Shane and Ilya had been outed, forcing them to look for more coaches to help out with the increased number of enrollments.
Of course, Scott had offered his assistance, especially in Montreal. Although none of them thought it was going to be any issues, he wasn’t going to let anything happen to Shane while in his old city. If anyone decided to make any digs about tripping, Scott was ready to pounce on them.
The conversation shifted away from Harris’ business pitch as Wyatt Hayes and his wife arrived, quickly engaging Troy and Harris in conversation and Kip took the opportunity to grip Scott’s hand in his, pressing against his husband's side. With a small sigh, he rested his head against Scott’s shoulder, feeling, rather than seeing as Scott turned and pressed a kiss to the top of his head.
“You good?” He heard Scott ask in a quiet murmur.
Kip nodded
“I am so good.” He replied softly. He could practically feel Scott’s smile against the top of his head.
They stood there in comfortable silence, listening to the conversation happening before them for a while longer, before they were interrupted by Yuna gesturing for them to step back, to make room.
“Huh?” Kip asked as he reluctantly raised his head from his husband's shoulder.
“First dance.” Wyatt said helpfully as he too, stepped back, his wife Lisa wrapped in his arms.
“Oh. Right.” Kip muttered as he joined the wall of people crowded around the edge of the empty lawn. Glancing around, he could see Ilya and Shane on the opposite side of the garden with Hayden Pike. From the look on Pike’s face and Ilya’s smirk, Kip guessed there was some teasing going on. Then Ilya took Shane’s hand and together, they stepped into the cleared patch of grass.
“Harris. Play something romantic.” Ilya called.
“You’re letting me choose!?” Harris asked, looking shocked.
“Just put on whatever. Is fine.” Ilya replied.
Harris scrambled to open his phone and pull up his playlist, quickly searching as Ilya pulled Shane against him, the two wrapping their arms around each other.
The music cut and then began again. A soft piano tune played as the song began.
‘Find light in the beautiful sea, I choose to be happy,
You and I, you and I, we’re like diamonds in the sky.
You’re a shooting star I see, a vision of ecstasy,
When you hold me, I’m alive, we’re like diamonds in the sky.’
Kip couldn’t hide the smile as he recognised the song. It was fitting for the two men before them, swaying gently to the music. Both were stars, shining for the world to see, so high above, that no one could bring them down again.
“A weird choice.” Scott muttered.
“No. A good omen.” Kip replied.
Around them, other couples causally cuddled up, basking in the love and happiness displayed before them.
As if reacting to the atmosphere, he felt the slight laugh rumble through his spouse's chest as Scott wrapped his arms comfortably about him, the two of them quietly watching their two stars, finally shining bright.
—----
The crowd was restless and excited as Kip dragged Scott by his hand, through the turnstiles and into the arena, heading towards their allocated seating. Both had tried to dress a little incognito, with caps and glasses and nothing to alert the crowd of their presence. Today was not about them.
Tickets for the first Centaurs game of the season had been almost impossible to get. In fact, if it wasn’t for Kip letting Ilya know their plan, he was sure it wouldn’t have been possible to enact their plot. Not just logistics wise (Scott’s own first game of the season was the very next day and to make their flight back to New York, he and Kip would have to book it from the arena straight to the airport, but it was worth it) but because every ticket seemed to be sold out within minutes of the announcement of Shane’s transfer going live.
The fans were excited for their prodigal son’s return to his home town.
As it was, Ilya was more than happy to help them out, offering his allocated seats for the first game. Seats which were usually for Yuna and David but since Shane had given his parents his own tickets, they were free.
Kip couldn't wait to see Shane’s face when he saw them all there, his friends and family, at his game.
Making their way to their seats, in a prominent place close to the ice, they both greeted Yuna and David, the proud parents already there in their brand-new Centaur’s jerseys and caps which had only just been released and had already sold out twice.
Kip and his husband, for their parts, along with their caps and glasses, were both wearing their Game Changer’s branded jackets, part of their uniform from their very successful few weeks with the organisation.
Kip was sure he saw Yuna glance approvingly at their attire as they sat down, Scott next to Yuna and Kip on his other side. They both removed their glasses and caps, knowing now that there was no danger Shane would get word of their presence.
They all chatted happily during the long wait before the game began, admiring the large amount of rainbow flags in the crowd and the one person holding up a sign which said ‘Scott Hunter Who?’ (If they had time, Kip definitely wanted to get a photo of that). Then the crowd began to cheer, the tension in the building changing. Loud music blasting as the announcer called the names of the players, Ottawa welcoming, first the opposing team and then their own team onto the ice.
Technically, Ilya as Captain, should be last announced but they had shifted the order to bring Shane out last, to create maximum impact for his arrival.
Kip waited, gaze shifting between the ice and the screen, for his friends to arrive. He cheered when Ilya was announced and skated out, his stats and a few clips of his previous triumphs quickly displayed on the screen. He felt, more than heard, the hush that fell across the whole crowd as, with bated breath, they waited for the final name to be called.
And then he was there, his name almost screamed as the crowd went wild, everyone jumping up from their seats. Shane, in his new uniform, looked comfortable and relaxed in a way Kip didn’t remember seeing before when the man played.
He skated up to Ilya who pulled him into a one sided hug and pressed a kiss to his cheek which made the crowd go even more insane. Then the Russian said something and Kip saw on the screen, Shane glanced up to the crowd.
The camera operator, clearly knowing his task, panned on the crowd, immediately fixing on Shane’s parents. And of course, Scott Hunter and Kip Grady next to them.
“Go.” Kip muttered, driving his elbow into Scott’s side and Scott, a huge grin on his face, obediently pulled the zipper of his jacket down, revealing the Centaur’s jersey underneath.
He turned as if to casually place his discarded jacket on the seat behind him, the camera catching the name ‘Hollander’ printed across his back. The crowd, still pumped at the introduction of their new player and the display of affection, seemed to lose their collective minds and Kip could imagine the commentators in the box going as insane as the crowd at Scott Hunter, Captain of the New York Admirals and the first proudly Gay Hockey Player, showing such visible support for Shane.
The camera cut again to the ice where Shane looked like he was holding back tears, Ilya smiling and pulling him even closer as the rest of the Centaurs skated in for a group hug before the game began.
The crowd started to die down in their enthusiasm as the referee called for the beginning of the game. Kip sat down in his seat, Scott settling next to him.
“Happy?” Scott asked.
Kip stared at the ice for a long moment, thinking back to how he had gotten here.
He was in a good place. He had a job he loved, a group of friends he would never trade for anything. He had become a visible presence for young queer people and a safe space for everyone. And more importantly, he was so stupidly in love with the man who had decided to marry him.
If Kip could go back to that day, so long ago when he was hung over and sad, wishing he was anywhere other than behind the counter of a smoothie bar, he would love to tell that young man that soon a handsome athlete in sweaty workout gear would stumble into his work and badly attempt to flirt with him. That they would make each other brave. They would face the world together.
They would change the game for everyone.
He would tell his younger self the same mantra his dad always told him which, until recently, he had always doubted. Had always felt was undeserving.
“You deserve everything because you are amazing.”
Glancing over at his husband, Kip was struck by the love in those warm brown eyes. He smiled back.
“Yes.” he replied. “I am.”