Chapter Text
It starts with an offhand comment from Rozanov. They’re out as a team for a dinner following a long day of training camp. Luca’s muscles sing in pain after a summer of not doing much, but there’s nowhere else he’d rather be. Coming off a cup win with the Centaurs, the bond with the team is incredible. Luca would say they’re like his family. No, they are his family, especially being so far away from his actual family in Zurich. He checks his watch; it’s not so late, but the day has been exhausting and they have to do it all again tomorrow.
“I probably should settle my bill,” he tells Rozanov, who glances up from his plate of chicken Parmesan.
“Not necessary,” he says. “Shane took care of it.”
“He what?” Luca says.
“He paid the bill,” Rozanov says. “And the bar tab for the rest of the night.” Luca looks around. Shane… isn’t here. He had a zoom call about some sort of brand collaboration and he had to beg off on dinner, much to everyone’s disappointment.
“When did he do that?” Rozanov shrugs.
“He texted me a few minutes ago, apologizing, wanted to let everyone know he will make the next night out and that tonight is on him.” Luca blinks. No one had begrudged Shane having to take a call, but he still wanted to do this for them.
“He didn’t have to do that,” Luca says. Ilya snorts.
“You should learn -- my husband is very clever and sneaky when he wants to be,” he says. “Just ask Barrett’s terrible ex.”
Luca blinks at him in surprise, but Ilya just grins and puts his finger up to his lips. “I have already said too much.”
Luca probably shouldn’t say anything, but… what did Rozanov mean?
It’s the same question Bood asks him when Luca approaches him at the bar to try and work through what the hell Rozanov meant. Bood’s eyebrows raise.
“You didn’t ask him?”
Luca shakes his head. “He said he already said too much,” he explains. Bood laughs and claps a hand on his shoulder.
“It’s Rozy, man,” Bood says. “Of course he’s going to tell you more if you ask. And you have to ask. Use your rookie powers for good.” Luca looks skeptically at him. “Good gossip, anyway. How is Hollzy related to the shit that went down with that dickhead? If you don’t get the answers, the world may never know.”
Luca blinks at him again, grasps his beer in his hands tightly as he turns back to look at Rozanov, who is grinning at the head of the table, gesturing animatedly as he talks. Rozanov looks over at them and gestures for him to come over. “Come on, Haasy. Harris found quiz, what MLH player we would be. I want to see if you will also be Ilya Rozanov.”
Luca feels his cheeks turn pink and he clears his throat, looking at Bood. Bood, to his credit, doesn’t make that much fun of him. “Okay, fine. But it can’t leave the team.”
“Of course not, Haasy,” Bood says with a nod.
Luca actually is, according to Buzzfeed, most like Shane Hollander. Rozanov asks Luca to send a screenshot of his results and when he does, immediately texts it to Shane.
“I am telling him that his son is just like him,” Rozanov says. The smile he gets is slightly fond and Luca feels that familiar warmth in his chest.
Yeah, this is the closest thing to a second family he could hope for.
“He says I’m being ridiculous,” Rozanov says with a chuckle. “In sneaky husband speak, it means that he is probably blushing and very pleased that you are more like him.”
Luca doesn’t know what to say to that, certainly nothing that won’t make him at least tear up. Roz is distracted and a little buzzed and maybe this is the best time to press for more information.
“What did you mean earlier about Hollzy and Barrett’s ex?” Luca asks. Rozanov looks at him and then starts giggling like a child. An evil child.
“Shane set up Google alerts and reached out to Rose Landry and her friends,” Rozanov says. “They got good gossip on the asshole and they spread it around Hollywood. Broke up his relationship.” Rozanov puffs out his cheeks and mimics a bomb exploding. Luca’s jaw drops open; he can’t believe that. It’s maniacal.. And Hollander did it??
“Hollzy did that?” Luca asks.
“I know! It’s brilliant!” Rozanov says gleefully. Luca isn’t sure he likes the level of schadenfreude Rozanov is getting from this, but he doesn’t let it show.
“He never told us,” Luca says with a nod. Rozanov shakes his head.
“He does not want a big deal made, but…” he grins. “He was so proud, standing up for a friend like Barrett.” He claps Luca on the shoulder. “He is a good man. Very sexy, too, when he is all evil-like.” For someone as tough and ruthless on the ice, it’s kind of fascinating to see the switch that gets flipped when he starts talking about Shane.
“You can’t tell him I said anything.” Rozanov continues. “He wants to keep it quiet. Doesn’t want Barrett or Harris to know. In fact, don’t tell anyone.”
Too late, Luca thinks. Rozanov leaves not long after and Luca bee-lines it to Bood to tell him what Rozanov said. It takes almost no time for the word to get out to the rest of the team
As requested, the team arrives early for practice. Once again, the white board has been pulled out, “Revenge list- part 2” written across the top.
“Okay, so here’s the game plan,” Bood says. “We need to come up with some ideas for how to get back at the Metros for Shane.” There’s some nodding, but everyone is silent. “Let’s have them.”
Luca raises his hand. “What’s off limits?” He asks. All heads turn to Troy, who blows out a long breath.
“Uh… That’s a good question.” He looks at Harris, who’s standing in the doorway, keeping an eye out for Hollander and Rozanov.
Harris sighs. “No mentioning kids, no parents, keep things above the belt, no slurs,” he says. There’s general noises of agreement. “Also, I think one broken up relationship in all this mess is enough. Let’s try not to do that, alright?” The room looks a little less enthusiastic.
“Basically we want to piss them off, not… ruin their lives,” Troy adds. There’s some groans.
“I’m up for a little life-ruining,” Dillon says.
“No!” Harris replies. Dillon pouts but doesn’t argue. “Oh, and don’t go after their pets,” Harris says with a grimace. “That’s just… that’s not nice. They don’t deserve it.” There’s a murmur of agreement amongst the group.
“C’mon,” Bood says. “We only have 30 minutes. Ideas?”
“We could slash their tires,” Boyle offers.
“Nothing criminal,” Harris interrupts. “That’s just bad PR, especially if anyone gets caught.” Another beat of silence as everyone thinks.
“This is feeling less and less revengey by the moment,” Chouinard says with a sigh.
“We just need to break their spirits,” Troy replies. “A total fall from grace. Make the people says ‘ooh, they’re nothing without Shane Hollander.’”
“That already kind of happened,” Dillon offers. “They didn’t make the cup finals last year. We did.”
“And with this, if we do this right, they won’t even make the playoffs,” Troy says.
Luca raises his hand again. “Can they be last in the league?”
Troy grins wickedly. “Yeah, yeah, I like that.” Bood scribbles ‘fall from grace’ and ‘last in league’ on the board.
“Make it quick guys,” Bood says. “No ideas are bad ideas. It’s still twenty minutes before practice!”
“And Shane usually gets here early,” Harris says, “So chop-chop.” Troy grins as he watches his teammates offer ideas (not all of them particularly sane or legal, but it’s the thought that counts) and they get jotted on the board. He really is humbled that Shane would do this for him without anything in return, just as his friend.
Troy will make sure that he’s earned Shane’s friendship.