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Shane and Ilya were in Shane’s parents’ garage, sorting through years of his old stuff. Boxes were stacked everywhere: Shane – Childhood, Shane – School, Shane – Hockey, and a lot of other labels. Most of it was junk, but his parents couldn’t bring themselves to throw any of it away.
Ilya stepped inside and immediately grabbed the closest box. He pulled out a photo and started laughing.
Shane looked over. “What—?”
Baby Shane stared back at him, chubby cheeks, missing front teeth, wearing a bright green dinosaur t-shirt and shorts that were a little too big for him.
“Give me that” Shane said quickly.
“No” Ilya said calmly, sliding the picture into his pocket.
“You can’t steal my baby photos.”
“This is not stealing, I am simply collector” Ilya stated.
Shane groaned and gave up, knowing he’d never get it back. He moved on, digging through another pile: old toys, a cracked helmet, a tiny hockey stick.
Then something metal clinked from behind a stack of boxes.
Ring. A faint, high-pitched jingle.
Shane crouched, pushed aside some boxes, and pulled out a tiny bike. The paint was faded blue and scratched along the frame. Little tassels still hung from the ends of the handlebars, and a crooked bell sat on one side.
“That is very small bike” Ilya bent down, flicking one of the tassels so it bounced.
“Yeah, I think I was about ten when my parents bought it.” Shane nudged the bike forward a little.
“I like the sparkle thing.” Ilya twisted the tassels between his fingers.
“They’re called tassels… or pom-poms.”
“Very cute pom-poms” Ilya teased.
Shane snorted. “Shut up.” He nudged the bike forward a little with his foot. “So… do we give it a spin?”
Ilya hesitated, then shook his head. “I do not know how to ride a bike.”
Shane looked up. “What?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
Ilya shrugged.
“Bicycles was not really a thing back in Russia” Ilya said, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “My dad and brother would say it is a waste of money. Maybe my mom would have bought me one… but I do not know.”
Ilya leaned back against a stack of boxes. “At school, one of my friends had a bike. Everyone took turns riding it… but I never joined. I was too shy to admit I did not know how.”
Shane tilted his head. “So what did you say?”
“I said riding bicycle was boring.”
Shane chuckled softly. “Of course you did.” Bending down, he grabbed the tiny bike and dragged it out of the garage, rolling it across the driveway. “Well… do you want to try?”
Ilya stared at the tiny frame, frowning. “That will not hold me.”
Shane grinned. “Yes it will.”
“No it will not.”
Shane swung a leg over the seat. “Look—I’ll ride it first.”
Ilya crossed his arms and leaned against the side of the garage. “You will hurt yourself.”
“I will not” Shane said, gripping the handlebars. He pushed off, and the bike rolled forward a couple of feet before tipping, one handlebar twisting completely loose. Shane wobbled sideways, barely managing to keep his balance.
There was a moment of silence.
“I told you.” Ilya lifted an eyebrow, trying—and failing—not to smile.
He looked down at the loose handle still in his hand. “…Okay, maybe the bike wouldn’t hold you.”
His gaze drifted to the tiny broken bike, then back to Ilya, still standing there with that small, stubborn grin. The thought settled quietly in his mind—his husband had gone far too long without a bike of his own. And right then, he decided Ilya’s inner child was long overdue for one.
—
The thought stuck with Shane, of course it did.
So here he was, fifty tabs open, scrolling through bikes while Ilya dozed on the couch beside him.
Shane was overwhelmed.
Why were there so many types of bikes? Road bikes? Mountain bikes? BMX bikes? Folding bikes? Not to mention color, bell, handlebars, tires… Shane kept scrolling and scrolling, trying to imagine which one his husband would actually like.
Eventually, he settled on a sleek grey bike with a wide cushioned seat, chunky tires, and a splash of bright blue on the handlebars.
He added it to his cart.
The bike showed up a week later.
—
“I have a surprise for you” Shane called, grinning from the doorway.
“I do not like the way you are smiling” Ilya said suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.
“Just come here and close your eyes.” Shane reached for Ilya’s hands and guided him forward.
Ilya squeezed his eyes shut. “I am scared.”
“Trust me.” Shane tugged him gently toward the driveway. The bike sat there, gleaming in the sunlight.
“What do you think?” Shane asked.
Ilya stepped closer, eyes wide. “This is… for me?”
“Yes, it is. Thought maybe it was time you had your own bike.”
Ilya circled the bike, fingers brushing the handlebars. He tapped the little tassels. “I like this… it is my favorite part.”
Shane followed his gaze to the little tassels dangling from the ends of the handlebars, The same tassels from his childhood bike.“I thought I’d add a part of me to it.”
“I have a very sexy and thoughtful husband,” He gave Shane a teasing wink.
“Shut up before I return it.” Shane snapped back. Ilya opened his mouth in surprise and held onto the bike, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Then he froze, looking down at the bike and back at Shane. “Wait… Shane. Big problem. I still do not know how to ride it.”
“I will teach you.”
“Oh no.” Fear spread across Ilya’s face as he stared at Shane, unsure if this was a joke or a very, very bad idea.
—
Shane crouched down next to the bike. “Okay… first things first. Feet on the pedals, hands on the handlebars. Don’t panic.”
“I am panicking!” Ilya admitted, sitting on the bike, both feet still flat on the ground, gripping the handlebars hard. “Very panicking.”
Shane smiled gently. “A little panic is good. It’s normal. I’ll be right here the whole time.” He moved behind the bike and rested his hands lightly on the seat. “Try leaning forward a bit. Feel the balance.”
Ilya shifted slightly. “Balance… I do not have balance. My balance is terrible.”
“Not true.” Shane said softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from Ilya’s forehead. “Just try. Stop being stubborn—I’ll hold you steady.”
“I am not stubborn” Ilya said, huffing, trying to straighten his back.
“Yes you are. And that is why I know you will do this. Just trust me.”
“I do not know if I can trust you”
“You can” Shane said, pressing a light hand to Ilya’s shoulder. “I’m not going to let you fall. Just… lean a little forward, lift your feet onto the pedals when you’re ready.”
Ilya’s eyes flicked to the driveway, then back at Shane. “What if I fall?”
The irony wasn’t lost on Shane—a hockey player, terrified of falling off a bike—but he didn’t say it out loud.
“You won’t” Shane said firmly, smiling. “Even if you did, I’d catch you. I promise. I would never let you get hurt.”
“This… I feel very… small.” Ilya admitted, shifting, unsure where to put his weight.
“You are not small.” Shane said, pressing a quick kiss to Ilya’s cheek.
“I feel very… small anyway” Ilya muttered, looking away and fiddling with the handlebars.
“Okay, maybe a tiny little bit” Shane teased, nudging him gently. “But cute small is allowed.”
“Do not call me cute small! I am strong, sexy Russian!” Ilya protested, puffing out his chest.
“Stop trying to flirt your way out of learning.” Shane kept his hands steady on the seat. “Just relax your shoulders. Take a deep breath. When you’re ready, lift your feet onto the pedals slowly. I’ll hold you the entire time.”
Ilya finally lifted his feet, wobbling slightly. “That did not feel stable.”
“Yet I do not see you on the floor, so clearly I’ve got you, okay?” Shane said, smiling. “Just breathe and relax.”
Ilya let out a shaky breath, feeling a little of the tension in his shoulders ease.
“Good. Okay… just pedal slowly. I’ve got you” Shane said, keeping his voice calm.
Ilya didn’t move at all, gripping the handlebars a little tighter.
“Just try! I’ll hold the seat the entire time, even after you start moving. Nothing will happen” Shane reassured him.
Finally, Ilya pushed off tentatively. The bike wobbled, but Shane’s hands kept it steady.
“Shane! This is terrifying!” Ilya exclaimed, voice tight but with a hint of nervous excitement.
“You’re doing fine! Pedal, pedal… keep looking forward, not down” Shane said. “Exactly like that. You’re amazing.”
“I do not feel amazing right now Shane!” Ilya protested, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“But you’re doing it—you’re riding a bike!” Shane said, moving with him, his eyes fixated on Ilya.
They went a few meters down the driveway like this, Shane jogging behind, letting Ilya get used to the motion. Gradually, Shane eased his hands off the seat—just a tiny bit at first—letting Ilya feel the bike moving on its own.
Ilya didn’t notice. He concentrated, eyes on the path ahead, legs pumping. “Shane… it feels… weird. But is okay I think?” he said, voice trembling but excited.
“Good! Keep going! That’s it!” Shane cheered, a quiet thrill in his chest. He let go completely now, jogging alongside without touching the bike.
Ilya didn’t notice at first. Then, suddenly, it hit him—Shane wasn’t holding the bike anymore. His eyes went wide. “Shane! You let go!” His face froze in full panic, but his legs kept pedaling anyway.
“Keep pedaling!” Shane shouted. “You’ve got this! Don’t look down!”
Ilya rocked slightly from side to side, somehow managing to stay upright. “Oh no, I am going to fall… I am going to die… Shane, what have you done to me!” he yelled, voice frantic but filled with excitement. Shane couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of his husband like this—so wide-eyed, flustered, and utterly alive.
Despite the fear, Ilya kept moving, legs pumping faster, laughter beginning to mix in. By the time he realized it, a wide, unstoppable smile had spread across his face, his eyes bright and alive.
“I am doing it!” Ilya shouted. “Shane! I am really doing it!”
“Yes you are!” Shane said, laughing and jogging beside him.
Ilya’s laughter rang out, full and carefree, his arms settling more confidently on the handlebars. His eyes sparkled with a mix of relief and pure joy, a little rosy glow in his cheeks. Shane slowed, letting him coast a few meters on his own before stepping in to steady him at the end of the driveway.
Ilya skidded to a gentle stop, wobbling just a little as Shane steadied the bike behind him. He hopped off, breath coming in quick, happy bursts, and spun around to face Shane.
“I actually did it!” Ilya exclaimed, grin stretching impossibly wide. “I ride a bike!”
Ilya glanced at the bike, then back at Shane. “I… I never thought I would do this. It felt… like flying, but also terrifying.”
Shane just smiled. “You look… happy” he said quietly, eyes soft on Ilya.
“I feel… I feel like a little child again.” Ilya admitted softly, eyes wide and sparkling, cheeks flushed, a few tears glimmering at the corners. “And also… really, really happy.”
“I do not know how to describe how I feel. Just… thank you. For this. I love you… so much,” Ilya whispered, more tears slipping down his cheeks.
Shane brushed a thumb across Ilya’s cheek, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to his lips. “I love you too.”
Ilya held him tighter, pressing his forehead to Shane’s shoulder for a moment, then pulled back slightly to glance down at his hands clutching his crucifix chain. “Thank you,” he said softly, voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for this bike… and thank you for making me feel like a child again. Like… like my old self, but happier.”
“You don’t need to thank me” Shane murmured, resting his hand gently on Ilya’s. “All I want is for you to be happy.”
“I love you.” Ilya murmured, a small, shaky smile on his lips.
“I love you too” Shane replied, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of his head.
And that day, Ilya felt completely, achingly loved—by Shane, by the life they had together, and in a way that reached into the quiet, hidden parts of himself. Tucked into Shane’s arms, safe and warm, something small and bright stirred inside. His inner child peeked out, grinning quietly, finally allowed to laugh, to feel free, and just be happy. For the first time in a long while, that little part of him felt seen, unafraid, and alive, letting the simple joy of the moment wash over him.