Chapter Text
Ilya Rozanov is signing with us.
It’s a 6-word text from his coach, but it makes Zane Boodram’s world crash.
As the team’s captain, I thought you should be the first to know. I’ll tell everyone else at practice today. Rozanov will be there.
Bood blinks, unable to fully wrap his mind around the concept. Why would Ilya Rozanov, one of the best players in the entire NHL, be signing with Ottawa? They’re at the bottom of the barrel, and there is quite literally zero reason for Rozanov, a Russian party boy, to want to move to the capital of Canada with less than thrilling nightlife, from Boston, which was a legacy team that had drafted and raised him.
Something fishy was going on.
He meets Rozanov that afternoon, before practice officially starts. The Russian man is no less intimidating out of gear than the many times Bood has faced (and lost to) him on the ice.
“Zane Boodram,” he greets his new teammate cordially, offering his hand. “But you can call me Bood. Welcome to Ottawa, Rozanov. We’re pleased to have you.”
Rozanov just stands there and laughs, which intimidates Bood at first, but it’s less than a second before he daps Bood up and is shaking his hand ferociously. “Good to meet you, Bood. I am Ilya Rozanov, but you already know that.” He gives Bood a cheeky wink, eclipsed only by the massive grin on his face. “You may call me Rozanov, or Roz, I do not care.” His face changes quickly, expression turning serious. “I look forward to helping this team. You are a good player, captain, but everyone else,” he winces, ”they need work.”
Bood knows in that moment that the Centaurs will never be the same team again, not with Rozanov joining them.
He looks the Russian in the eyes with a serious expression matching his own. “I can’t wait for us to do that.”
*
Practice later that day is… strange, to say the least. Bood knows he’s not a bad player, but compared to Rozanov, he’s nothing.
The rest of the team is surprised, to say the least. The news of Rozanov’s signing with them hasn’t broken publicly, and they’ve been told to keep it under wraps for now. Boston knows he’s gone, but not to whom. Their team dynamics are already completely changed. Having a beast on the ice like Rozanov brings the Centaurs much-needed power, and Bood can already feel their team spirit buoying as it has never felt before. They won’t be at the top of the league, but this is the beginning of a brand new era.
“Barbecue at mine, tomorrow!” Bood calls to the team, a grin on his face after a successful practice. “Let’s celebrate a new beginning for the Centaurs!” He’ll have to break the news to Cassie, go shopping, and cook, but it’ll be worth it.
Rozanov stands next to him while they’re showering, scrubbing aggressively down his body. He looks almost wistful, his head going somewhere that doesn’t match the environment that they’re in. The way his hands glide over his body, there’s a sense of yearning that Bood knows he’s only seen on himself when they’re on long road trips, and he hasn’t seen his wife for a significant amount of time. Could Ilya Rozanov, famous party boy, be settling down? That was a question Bood desperately wanted to know the answer to, but not in a place like the showers.
“You barbecue a lot?” Rozanov asks when they’re dressing, pulling on a new Centaurs shirt their coach had presented to him at the beginning of practice.
Bood nods with a grin, “I’m the ultimate barbecuer. You’ve never tasted anything like my burgers. I’ll text you my address and add you to the team group chat.” He pulls up a photo of their last team get-together, with Mario Kart on the TV, condiment bottles on the table, and food and scraps scattered everywhere, and shows it to Rozanov. He suddenly realizes he has an opportunity here and broaches the subject of Ilya Rozanov’s dating status. “You’re welcome to bring a date with you,” he says carefully. “Most of the guys bring their wives and girlfriends with them.”
Rozanov barks a laugh, tossing his bag of gear over his shoulder. “I do not have girlfriend, Bood. Maybe I will bring your mother,” he winks, signifying his joking nature. “Thank you for invite, I look forward to it.’
Bood smiles. Better luck next time for him. Ilya Rozanov is a mystery he’ll have to work to unravel as they get to know each other as teammates.
*
As the season goes on, Bood can clearly see that the team is changing. They still lose most games, but something in the air is different. Rozanov is bringing a spirit to the Centaurs that they just didn’t have before. He shows them the places to go party when they’re on the road, except Montreal. Bood’s heard whispers from Cliff Marleau about Ilya having a girl there, but Rozanov, elusive as ever, refuses to confirm anything. All Bood knows is that Rozanov is always busy on free days and is nowhere to be found in the city, except for when they go to do charity events.
After losing to the Admirals one evening, Rozanov surprises Bood by inviting him personally to hang out at a bar in the evening. Bood has no reason to turn it down, which is why he finds himself sitting in a gay bar with Scott Hunter and Ilya Rozanov that evening.
Hunter seems at home there. Bood remembers when he first came out publicly, bravely kissing his boyfriend, who works at the bar, out on the ice after winning the Stanley Cup. He won’t admit it to the captain of the Admirals, especially not after being crushed by them, but Bood thinks Hunter might be the single bravest man in the league.
They drink and talk for hours, and Bood realizes that he himself feels like a different man from the beginning of the season. Yes, he’s still the captain of a rather shitty team, but with Rozanov having joined, Bood is socializing and enjoying himself. His performance is improving too, with Rozanov pushing him to work harder. When he makes the All-Star team for the first time in his career, he’s shocked but proud.
The Ottawa Centaurs are going somewhere, Bood thinks, and he’s excited to see where they go next.