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Hayden wouldn’t say he was proud of what he and JJ had done. He had enough of a moral compass to even feel a bit bad about it. But he hadn’t felt so bad as to not do it anyway. Which meant that he and JJ had conspired to steal “Lily’s” phone number from Shane’s phone.
They had managed to succeed through a combined effort from them both to distract Shane enough that he forgot to lock it before going to shower. Hayden had quickly grabbed it from where Shane had set it down in his stall. Waiting just long enough for the other man to disappear into the shower room, but not so long that the phone would time out and lock itself. Hayden had sent the contact to himself before deleting the evidence from Shane’s phone. He hadn’t snooped through their texts, despite being tempted. He was already going too far probably.
He and JJ both knew Shane wouldn’t be happy to discover their plans. Really, they just had to convince “Lily” to not immediately tell Shane when they contacted him. Yes, they had deduced by now that “Lily” was a man and that’s why Shane was so touchy about the subject of his longtime love.
Shane had come out to him and JJ a few weeks ago. They had both made sure to support their close friend and reassure him that this didn’t change anything. And that they understood the importance of keeping this to just them, since he wasn’t ready for the whole team to know yet. Which was more than understandable considering how the hockey culture was. Hayden and JJ had both been touched that Shane trusted them with this, and didn’t want to let him down.
However, they were still very interested in his romantic life. Particularly, supporting it. After so many years of trying to set him up with women, clearly the wrong move in hindsight, they wanted to make up for it now. But Shane was still just as unresponsive to their attempts as he had always been.
Upon remembering that “Lily” existed, they put two and two together and came to the conclusion that it was a man, and also likely Shane’s long-term partner. And, sue them, they wanted to get to know him. Knowing Shane, “Lily” was likely someone else athletic and into sports, they couldn’t imagine him being with anyone he couldn’t talk puck with for very long, let alone years.
Ultimately, they wanted another guy they could bro out with and who was cool and more chill and understanding than a lot of the guys in the league. The overtly misogynistic, racist, homophobic culture in the locker rooms got old really fast. It would be nice to have another nice, decent guy friend to hang out with, away from the assholes of the league like Ilya Rozanov.
Which meant that, yes, Hayden and JJ had been temporarily bad friends and invaded Shane’s privacy to steal “Lily’s” number. All that was left to do was text him in a group chat with just the three of them, for now, and hope that he didn’t immediately run to tell Shane and blow their whole new friend acquisition plan up before it had really begun.
Hayden and JJ had tried to strategize about the best way to approach this. They figured that ultimately getting right to the point would give them the best chance of “Lily” not freaking out. They decided to have the first text conversation with him together.
New group chat created
Hayden, JJ, + 1 other
Hayden: Hi! Please don’t freak out right away! This is Hayden and JJ. We’re friends of Shane. Sorry to do this out of the blue, but we know you’re an important person to him and wanted to get to know you!
JJ: We play with him on the Metros, he’s a great guy and we know that if he’s as crazy about you as he is, you must be a great guy too
Lily: Hmmmmm
Lily: Is that so
Lily: What do you know about us?
Hayden: Well, we know you’re “Lily” but not much beyond that
Hayden: Shane has been texting you for years
Hayden: He’s definitely super fucking into you and I bet you feel the same about him
JJ: Or you should 
Lily: Of course
JJ: Shane hasn’t told us but we think you’re likely a dude
JJ: Context clues and all
Lily: This is a bad idea
Lily: I should leave chat
Lily: And block you two idiots
Hayden: No! Please!
JJ: We’re desperate here man!
Hayden: We just want a chance
Lily: Why?
JJ: Because Shane is important to us
JJ: We want to be supportive
Hayden: And you’re clearly a very important part of his life
Hayden: Like, even more than hockey which I once thought was impossible
Lily: I take it he doesn’t know you have my number
Lily: No way he would willingly give to you
JJ: You’ve got us there
Hayden: We’re sorry about that
Hayden: But he’s so private
Hayden: He’d never let us talk to you or meet you
Lily: He has good reasons
Lily: I respect that
Lily: So should you, his best friends
Hayden: We do!
Hayden: It’s just…
JJ: You know Shane
JJ: How hard it is for him to relax and open up
Lily: 
Hayden: We feel like you have to be a cool guy for Shane to be so into you
JJ: And we wanted a chance to get to know you and show him that we can all get along and be friends and shit
Lily: I guess I can understand reasoning
Lily: I am very fucking cool after all
Lily: But I cannot be friends with Metros
Lily: Even being with Shane is pushing it
JJ: Totally forgot, you live in Boston right?
Hayden: Oh shit, you would be a Raiders fan huh?
Lily: Best fucking team in league
Lily: Suck it Metros
JJ: We have THE Shane Fucking Hollander!
Lily: Even second best NHL player is not enough to make up for the rest of you on that team
Hayden: Maybe you’re not as cool as we thought
Lily: Oh no
Lily: Whatever will I do with myself now?
JJ: He couldn’t be absolutely perfect Hayd
JJ: Needed a flaw
JJ: This seems to be it sadly
Lily: No flaws
Lily: I am perfect 
Hayden: 
JJ: 
Lily: 
Lily: This is actually fun
Lily: For now I will not tell Shane
JJ: Fuck yes! Thanks dude!
Hayden: Thank you! But I’m watching you! Raiders fan…
JJ: Anyway….
JJ: How about that game last night??
Hayden and JJ loved “Lily” immediately. Even with his loyalty to the Raiders. He was funny and charming and seemed like a great guy. If asked before, Hayden probably would have said he expected “Lily” to be more like Shane, at least over text. Quieter, not the most responsive or amusing texting partner. But he was the complete opposite. It wasn’t long before the three of them fell into a steady pattern of communication.
“Lily” had made it clear that he did not like keeping things from Shane. This, of course, endeared Hayden and JJ to him even more. Even without having met him in person, the two of them were now convinced that “Lily” was perfect for their friend.
The mystery man who was so devoted to Shane had set a hard deadline of two months. Two months for Hayden and JJ to tell Shane what they did or “Lily” would do it for them. There was also the added incentive of them not getting his real name until they were able to meet in person. For his part, “Lily” had expressed that he would like to get together in person, but it would need to be decided by Shane. And only after Hayden and JJ had come clean to him.
After much debating and worrying between the two about how they were going to do that, they decided to take the path of least resistance.
Shane’s Angels
Hayden added Shane to the chat
Shane: Um hi?
Shane: What was wrong with our other group chat?
Hayden: So, we have something to tell you
Shane: Weird fucking chat name
Shane: Wait
Shane: What the fuck…
Shane: LILY?!?!
JJ: Yes, that’s what we wanted to tell you
Lily: You add him to group chat
Lily: Why?
Lily: You want him to murder me? I thought you wanted to be friends! I should have never trusted Metros!
Hayden: So we can tell him about us getting to know you
Lily: You were supposed to do this in person! Not here!
Hayden: Well we decided to do it here
Hayden: Surprise!
Lily: Because you are fucking cowards
Lily: Shane please my love have mercy
JJ: Who’s being cowardly now?
Lily: Shut the fuck up cowardly Metro
JJ: Fuck off!
Lily: Shane
Lily: Think about how much you will miss me if you murder me, your loving devoted boyfriend
Lily: Think about how much you will miss my dick
JJ: Gross
JJ: Not in like, a homophobic way
JJ: But like dude that’s my friend
Hayden: JJ shut the fuck up
Lily: Murder Hayden and JJ instead
Shane: Murder is still on the table
Shane: For everyone
Shane: I haven’t made up my mind yet
Shane: How the fuck did this even happen???
Hayden:...
Hayden: Remember how you love us and we’re your friends
Shane: 
JJ: Remember how we’re your teammates and you love to win games
Shane: Get to the fucking point
JJ: Hayden stole Lily’s number from your phone
Hayden: We did that together you asshole!
Hayden: I’m with Lily, you are a coward!
Lily: Hayden, you have now moved up in my ranking of Shane’s friends
JJ: You have rankings?
Lily: Of course
Lily: You are now at bottom of list
Lily: Even Rose Landry is higher on list right now
Lily: You should not be proud of this
Shane: Can we please focus??
Shane: On whatever fucking bullshit is happening here with you three talking to each other?
Hayden: Yes
JJ: Sorry
Hayden: I want to revisit this list thing later though
Shane: Okay, you’re now number one on my murder list
Hayden: Noooooooo
Lily: Could you give us a moment?
Hayden: Huh?
JJ: ?
Hayden: Are you guys still there?
JJ: Helllllooooooo???
Hayden: I think they might be on the phone with each other
JJ: Lily talking Shane down? Good man
Hayden: Stop trying to suck up! Stay at the bottom of the friend ranking and think about what you did!
JJ: We both did all of this together asshole!
Hayden: So you admit it!
Lily: Hello
Lily: We are back now
Lily: You play in Boston in two weeks. You both are invited over to my house after game for dinner.
JJ: No way!! Fuck yeah!
Hayden: We actually get to meet??
Hayden: That easily?
Shane: Watch it
Shane: I can turn a dinner party into a murder mystery party real fast
Shane: But without the mystery
Shane: Everyone will know I did it
JJ: Understood
Hayden: Sorry captain
Lily: You’re so cute when you threaten people my love
Lily: Facetime now so I can see your angry face when you yell at me more?
JJ: Okay, so
JJ: There are still things that should be kept to your private text thread
Hayden: JJ let’s leave them alone
JJ: Okay 
Hayden had gotten a rental car this time in Boston. He normally would never willingly drive in the city himself, but he also normally didn’t have anywhere to be besides the arena they were playing in, the hotel they were staying at, and whatever restaurants or bars the team decided to go out to for fun afterwards. This time he and JJ had somewhere else to be. And from the address provided and the minimal information they were able to wheedle out of Shane about “Lily’s” house, they had gathered it was a bit of a ways out from where they were staying.
So, the rental car. That way they wouldn’t have to wait forever for a rideshare. Though it was only him and JJ in the car on the way over now. Shane had decided to get over there ahead of them, and they had gathered that he needed a bit of time with “Lily” just the two of them. Presumably so they could get ready for the night together, and so “Lily” could calm Shane down. Definitely needed with how jumpy the man had been today.
JJ let out a low whistle from the passenger seat as they finally turned into the secluded driveway of a massive, modern looking house. “I know he’s always been cagey about what he does for work, but like you don’t think “Lily” is involved in organized crime or drug smuggling or anything right?”
Hayden cut an unimpressed look over at him while putting the car into park. “No asshole!”
“Dude, lighten up a bit! Don’t go all Shane on me now,” JJ laughed, unbuckling his seat belt and opening the car door. Hayden took a deep breath before doing the same and stepping outside. Maybe he was also a bit nervous about meeting “Lily” in person. As weird as that was, the guy was kind of like a myth in his mind by this point. Putting a face to the fake name finally. And a real name too.
Steeling himself, Hayden followed JJ up to the front door. JJ reached out and knocked. It was only a moment or two before the door was thrown open to reveal… Ilya Rozanov? Both Hayden and JJ took a small step back in surprise.
“Pike? Boiziau? What are you doing at my house? Was seeing me earlier at rink not enough for you? Needed more of my handsome face?” Rozanov drawled, one of his hands keeping the door angled closed so they couldn’t see further into the house.
Hayden and JJ looked at each other in horror. “Is this some kind of prank?” Hayden whispered frantically.
“I can’t believe Shane would set something like this up,” JJ answered, confusion written across his face. They were distracted then by another voice coming from further inside the house.
“Ilya? What’s taking so long…?” followed by footsteps moving towards the door. “What the fuck, just open the door and let them in, I swear to god…” Suddenly the door was thrown wide open by Shane and Rozanov was rolling his eyes affectionately.
“Let me have a little bit of fun at least moya lyubov',” Rozanov said. Shane glared back at him.
“You promised you would be on your best behavior tonight! It’s the only reason I even agreed to this in the first place!” Shane hissed, eyes still focused on the Russian man next to him. Both of them just standing in the doorway having an argument like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Was not the only reason as I recall…” Rozanov grinned down at Shane as he flushed bright red.
“Um, pardon me, but what the fuck?” JJ’s voice cut through whatever was happening in front of them right now. The other two quickly snapped out of the little world of their own they had been in and focused on Hayden and JJ again. Who were guests here. Here apparently being Ilya Rozanov’s fucking house. Which meant that Rozanov was “Lily.” Hayden was now starting to regret getting a rental car since he wasn’t going to be able to drink about this the way he wanted to.
“Sorry, please, please come in,” Shane hurried to say, with Rozanov gesturing them inside at the same time. Even in his shock, Hayden could already tell they moved in sync, with that particular unspoken “couple language.”
Only when they were inside, shoes off, and settled around the dining table with drinks that had been wordlessly offered and accepted did anyone speak again. “Soooooo,” JJ started, before pausing and clearing his throat. “Lily?”
“Yes,” Rozanov answered simply, his eyes tracking over to Shane who sat next to him. Shane, who looked so scared and nervous and unsure, just as much as he had when coming out to him and JJ. Shane, who was Hayden’s best friend and the uncle to his children. Shane, who deserved only the best things, and who Rozanov was currently looking at like he, Shane, was the best thing in the entire world.
Any confusion and hurt Hayden might have felt melted away right then and there. He still had questions, a whole lot of them, but he also knew that the two men in front of him would answer those in due time. Tonight, the most important thing was that he and JJ show their support, and preserve their friendships with the best captain they could have asked for.
So what he said was, “Lily? Really? That was your great code name? One wrong slip of the tongue and “Boston Lily” turns into “Boston Ilya” real fast and then you’re both screwed!”
“Yeah!” JJ agreed from where he sat next to Hayden. They turned to look at each other briefly and shared a knowing look, both about the stupidity of the name choice and a silent agreement to be cool about this whole thing for Shane’s sake.
“Oh please,” Rozanov cut in, “Nobody figured it out!”
“You’re just lucky us hockey players aren’t exactly known for our brain power!” JJ crowed, easily settling into the teasing vibe he had shared with “Lily” over text.
“In my defense, I was not exactly running on my full brain power in the moment!” Rozanov protested.
“Oh yeah, and why was that?” Hayden snarked back.
Rozanov opened his mouth to retort, but stopped at a firm but restrained “Ilya” from Shane. The look on his face at that moment was so meek, clearly picking up on an admonishment in the tone, that JJ and Hayden couldn’t help bursting into laughter. Maybe this whole thing would be okay after all.