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Shane never really understood the hype around having a pet. The concept makes sense he supposes, for younger children.
A great way to help teach young kids about responsibility and compassion, with a cute fluffy companion to help motivate them. But still, they’ve always seemed like more trouble than they're worth.
Shane can remember when he was younger his mother had a rather impressive aquarium. Filled to the brim with salt water to house the many fish kept inside. Shane has many fond memories of falling asleep on the couch after long days, watching all the fish swim about, zipping and ducking around the many corals and rocks.
It was relaxing.
It was also a source of great frustration, Shane can also remember the countless hours watching his mother toil over that tank. Muttering curses as she tried to ensure everything was in the best of care. Balancing the water levels, riding the glass of algae.
The near disaster it has been when a new addition she had added of a tiny clown fish nearly doomed the whole tank. The poor thing, not that they had known it at the time, was ill. And nearly brought the plague down on all the other inhabitants.
Through frustration and tears, his mother had saved the tank and it remained a mostly tranquil sight in the Hollander family living room for a good couple more years. Until the true final nail in the coffin happened, a power outage rendering the tanks heating system useless. Combined with a bad snowstorm, the tank sadly didn't stand a chance.
so Ilya's excitement and wanderlust over having a dog made even less sense to Shane.
The fish tank despite all the heartache, had been at least pretty to watch. A cat at least tends to be good at pest control, for even more unsavory critters.
But dogs, they seem to just bring trouble.
Shane can't help but think, biting back a muttered curse. Staring a hole into the ceiling above him. trying to ignore the gross wet feeling quickly soaking into his sock.
“Ilya, can you bring me the clorox wipes? Please.”
Shane calls.
“ Da what for —”
Ilya's question trails off with realization, as he walks into the living room carrying the trouble maker herself.
“Oh whatever are we to do with you, silly girl.”
Ilya fondly scolds the dog. Placing her down gently, as he quickly goes to retrieve the cleaning supplies.
“Maybe if she wasn’t treated like royalty, she wouldn’t think she has the run of the house.”
Shane remarks bitterly, this is the fourth time this week this has happened, why is it always him!
Shane instantly regrets the bitter remark at Ilya's heartbroken expression.
“Ah is my fault, I forgot to take her outside before bed last night.”
Ilya mutters softly.
“Its not anyone's fault.”
Shane replies with a soft sigh.
ignoring Ilya’s protest, he takes the cleaning supplies from his husband's hands, and starts to clean.
“Ahh still though, maybe Harris could recommend some training classes, or something. Wouldn’t hurt for our girl to get a more proper education.”
Ilya rambles as he crouches down and gently pulls Anya towards him. To keep her from going to sniff at Shane while he cleans.
Ilya's hands absent mindedly petting her, her attention shifts fully back to Ilya. She jumps up, licking his nose. Shane feels his heart melt at the joy filled smile Ilya has at the action.
“ Yeah, good idea. I'm sure he even knows some fun classes for more cute tricks, besides the practical things like this.”
Ilya enthusiastically agrees, as their morning conversation shifts seamlessly over to discuss the upcoming practice session in a few hours.
–
You would think with how much they kiss, Shane would get tired of the feeling of Ilya's lips pressed against his. Despite all of the kisses they've shared over the years. From the soft sweet slow ones, to the fiery passion filled quick fast ones. They all still leave sparks racing in Shane's heart as butterflies fill his stomach.
“You look divine like this.’
Ilya whispers against Shane's lips like it's some sort of secret only they share. his gaze half lidded as he looks up at Shane from where he sits in Ilya's lap.
Shane leans down further, enjoying how Ilya's hand follows. His fingers are so tangled in Shane's hair, they might as well be glued there.
Shane reaches a hand up to cradle Ilya's face, as the man beneath him settles leaning back further till they're both laying down. Still trading kisses with a steady rhythm.
Shanes never understood addiction, he understands being passionate about something. The countless hours Shane's put into hockey is a testament to that. But still at the end of the day if it came down to it Shane could walk away. He would be sad to, he would miss it. But, Shane knows with some time and effort, he could find something else to replace the hole in his life.
Shane quickly found himself addicted to this however, he needs this like the air he breathes. Shane has no idea how he lived the first 17 years of his life without this. Now, Shane plans on never going a day without this.
That sudden train of thought is interrupted by a bark, as Anya scuddles over.
“Not now sweet girl, your fathers are a little busy.”
Ilya calls, tilting his head back, some of his curls falling off the couch as he speaks to the dog.
Anya wags her tail at the attention however, taking it as an invitation.
“Wha– heyyy!”
Ilya trails off into laughter as Anya leans up, stealing Shane's place in giving Ilya “kisses”. His smile beaming as his head shifts back and forth trying to get her to stop, but that only makes Anya try even more.
“Whattt! What is so funny?!”
Ilya asks Shane in between his laughing, poking his finger into Shane's thigh, since he can't exactly make eye contact at the moment.
“Nothing nothing, just glad to see our daughter has good taste is all.”
Shane says between his own laughter, his thumb tracing hearts on the side of Ilya's hip from where he sits straddling his husband.
Ilya's face turns a bright red at Shane's remark, as he pulls himself back up so he's leaning on his elbows. He drags Shane into another kiss, ignoring Anya's yips of protest in the background.
Shane pulls back however, cupping Ilya's face in his hand as their eyes lock.
“You looked surprised at that.”
Shane mutters it was only for a moment, but with the blush there was also a look of surprise on Ilya's face at Shane's remark.
“You think too much.”
Ilya tries to lean back in to start another kiss, Shane almost lets him. But it's the smirk on Ilya's face that has Shane stopping him.
Shane's all too familiar with that cocky grin, Shane's all too familiar with all of Ilya's grins. And this one always spells trouble, because it always appears when he’s trying to hide something.
“Ilya.”
Shane says firmly, his thumb tracing a line over Ilya's eyebrow. The rest of his fingers tangle gently in Ilya's hair, as Shane's gaze stays locked with Ilya's. As if to say, I'm not going to let this go.
Anya adds another yip in the background, as if to say she agrees with Shane.
It's with a sigh Ilya replies.
“You just…always make it sound so easy, it surprises me.”
“Make what sound easy?”
“... loving me .”
Shane feels his heart shatter at Ilya's muttered reply.
“Oh,baby.”
Shane can't help the soft spoken whispered endearment as his grip on Ilya's face tightens.
The blush grows deeper across Ilya's face before being replaced by a look of determination, as he threads his own hand into Shane's hair.
Licking slowly at Shane's bottom lip as he drags it gently between his teeth.
“Not the only thing you make look easy.”
Ilya practically growls into Shane's ear, his voice low and raspy, the filthy intent of those words clear. As Ilya starts to grind his hips up.
Shane isn't ready to let this go however. Leaning in for another kiss, Shane pushes Ilya back down on the couch so he's once again draped across the cushions. Shane doesn't follow him down this time to continue kissing.
Shane shifts back slightly from where he sits perched atop his husband, pinning his legs in place.
“Perhaps a demonstration is in order, care to help me with that Anya?”
“Shane -”
The confused look on Ilya's face quickly turns to realization. Then quickly fades to laughter, as Shane leans over and picks Anya up.
Placing her onto the couch. With a happy bark, she happily returns to showering Ilya's face with kisses. And it's with great joy, Shane joins in the sentiment. Peppering kisses of his own across Ilya's chest and stomach.
“Haha down, Annushka– !”
Shane quickly gathers Ilya's hands up in his own, pinning them to the couch, to stop Ilya from blocking any of Anya's love. Delighted with the squeal, Ilya lets out when Anya's wet nose makes contact with his neck.
“See! Your very loveable baby.”
“Shaneee!”
Ilya wines at Shanes teasing.
“Still don't believe me? Maybe this will work then.”
The giggles continue to pour out of Ilya's mouth, as Shane quickly presses a kiss of his own to the other side of Ilya's neck.
A bit tricky with how Ilya's shoulders scrunch up to try and block, but shanes able to get him to unscrunch long enough to make an opening, by using the hand not currently holding Ilya’s in pace, to feather tickles across his stomach.
“I always forget how ticklish you are, I don't know how. Seeing how it's one of the many things I love about you.”
“SHANE–”
Shane once more ignores his husband's outburst, as he feathers more kisses across his stomach. Enjoying the little gasps and giggles Ilya makes at the sensation as he goes boneless. Melting against the couch.
Shane leans back up gently gathering Anya into his arms, so he can then set her back down on the floor. Pulling her away from Ilya's face to not only give him a moment to breathe, but so he can make eye contact.
“I don't care what anyone else has to say, you're perfect.”
“Your Caring.”
Shane says, placing a kiss on Ilya's forehead.
“You're loving , you’re kind. ”
Shane whispers, placing a kiss to each one of Ilya's cheeks.
He drags Ilya's hands to his lips.
“You're gentle.”
Shane's fighting back a smirk at how Ilya's entire face is stained red as he places gentle kisses to his husband's knuckles.
“You're breathtaking.”
Shane's own breath ghosts over Ilya's neck, as he places another kiss there.
“You’re Wonderful, funny, generous, compassionate,.”
Shane scatters more kisses across Ilya's stomach before pausing for a moment, his lips hovering over Ilya's heart.
“You’re so loving, from Anya and me. To my parents, to the team. You take such good care of everyone in your life, if anyone makes loving look easy, it's you.”
Shane looks up at Ilya though his eye lashes as he speaks. Before pressing a long soft sweet kiss over Ilya's heart.
Shane once more cups Ilya's face in his hands as he leans back up, tracing the tear trails staining Ilya's face with gentle kisses.
“Was that ok?”
Ilya leans his face further into Shane's hands.
“Da, it was great, thank you.”
Shane shifts onto his side so he's laying next to Ilya, pulling the other close. Ilya comes willingly, burying his face deep into the crook of Shane's neck.
“You don't have to thank me for loving you.”
Shane whispers.
“But I want to, it's the greatest thing I've ever had.”
Ilya whispers back, Shane smiles into Ilya's hair, enjoying the moment.
The silence is once again broken by a bark, this time followed by a small clinging metal sound. Shane lets out a sigh while Ilya starts to laugh again.
“ I swear, I've never seen a dog drink as much water as she does.”
Shane mutters reluctantly, starting to get up.
knowing the tantrum Anya will throw if one of them doesn't come to refill the water in her bowl soon.
“That's our princess for you, Not all bad though I suppose. Since we're getting up, we can take this to the bedroom, no ?”
Shane gives a thoughtful hmm as if he needs to think over Ilya's proposal, it's with a playful smirk he replies:
“I don't see why not.”
Before Ilya can stand, Shane is ducking back down. Gathering the other into his arms, before standing back up straight. Now holding his husband in a princess carry.
“Shanee”
Ilya once more calls, as the fading blush returns to his face.
His grip around Shane's neck tightens, for a moment. His eyes darting from Shane's face to the floor. As if to say, you needed not trouble yourself. I can walk, don't push yourself.
“Ilyaa.”
Shane returns, matching the slight whine in his husband's tone. As he tightens his grip as well. As if to say, I want to, I love you. Let me hold you.
They both quickly break into laughter as they cling to each other tighter. Ilya buries his head further into Shane's neck and Shane nuzzles his nose into Ilya's hair. As he starts carrying his husband to bed.
Shane's laughter turns to a groan of frustration, as he pauses his steps. Once more turning to glare at the ceiling in frustration. His socks once again, start to grow damp.
Ilya's laughter only begins to grow louder, practically kicking his feet in Shane's arms, as he realises the situation.
Another good set of socks ruined.
Dogs have never been Shane's thing, pets in general never have been. But for Ilya, Shane would put up with a hundred dogs and a million piss covered socks, if it meant his husband would stay this happy.