Chapter Text
It was during a game where Ottawa played against Montreal that Wyatt noticed something. Something his teammates were never going to believe if he told them. During the entire game, their beloved captain was making heart-eyes at none other than Montreal's captain Shane Hollander.
At first, Wyatt was able to brush it off; pretend like Ilya's glances had a different reason for lingering on Hollander's face for too long. But it really got to a point. One heated look toward Hollander? Fine, understandable. They were rivals, after all. However, now that Wyatt was really paying attention to Ilya, he had realized that Ilya constantly gave Hollander this look of pure adoration.
Wyatt had seen it before. Whenever Luca managed to learn a particularly difficult trick, or when Chiron begged for Ilya's attention. Those were the times where Ilya would look at them as if they were the greatest beings on earth.
He kept those looks to himself most of the time. It was a rarity to see. So there really couldn't be any real explanation why Ilya would be giving their opponents captain this expression all of the time. No explanation other than the obvious one: Ilya absolutely adored Shane Hollander.
The more Wyatt thought about it, the more it made sense. He was at the point in his logic, where he believed even his teammates might have to at least hear him out. The evidence was damning if you put all of it together.
So he decided: fuck it. He was going to tell his friends about his theory, and they could make fun of him all they wanted, but deep down they were going to realize that Wyatt's words held weight.
Absolutely no one was surprised when Ilya was once again busy after their game against Montreal. They may not have won the game — actually, they lost pretty badly — but Bood invited everyone to his house to party anyway.
If they couldn't keep themselves happy by winning, they'll just have to keep themselves happy through other methods. Are the methods questionable? Sure. But they're effective.
Of course, with Ilya not being there with them, that was the perfect opportunity for Wyatt to bring up Ilya's affections toward Montreal's captain. But just how was he supposed to get to that topic? It's not like he could just say: Oh, hey guys, I think our team captain has a major crush on Shane Hollander.
If Wyatt wanted to keep any hope of his teammates believing him, he'd need to introduce the topic gently. At a time where it actually fit.
Fortunately for him, Troy started talking about just how crazy it was that Ilya Rozanov of all people had decided to join the Ottawa centaurs. In all honesty, it was a completely over chewed topic. They've discussed it probably around a million times, and not once had they come to a realistic conclusion as to what was going on in Ilya's head.
But for once, Wyatt had a new guess. One that wasn't something like: Ilya decided to come to Ottawa because he just really likes the concept of centaurs, and he just really wanted to play for this team specifically. Really, Troy? That was the best you could come up with?
"Have we considered that maybe Ilya moved to Ottawa for someone else?" Wyatt said, trying to swerve the topic into his direction.
"Yes. Wyatt. We've gone over fifty variations of that theory. He's got a girl in Ottawa that he likes, he's got multiple girls in Ottawa that can give him exactly what he wants during sex, or he fell in love with a Centaurs fan that forced him to switch teams. We've been over this topic, dude." Troy replied, rolling his eyes.
Wyatt just ignored Troy's complaining. He shouldn't have brought up the topic if he thought it was so overdone. "Sure, but I've got a new one."
"Oh, have you now?" Dykstra leaned forward. "Go on, I'm all ears. Though I'm telling you right now that if you pull up with some shit like: Ilya met a girl in Montreal that hates Boston, so he moved to Ottawa since Montreal wouldn't take him, I'm smacking you over the head."
"Well." Wyatt's eyes darted across the room, a little uncoordinated. "Sort of?"
"Sort of." Dykstra stared at him with a blank look on his face. "What the hell could that even mean?"
"Guys just hear me out before you call me insane, alright?" Wyatt ran a hand through his hair. "Just trust me. It all makes sense."
"Sure, buddy. Just say it already; you're acting like you're telling us some information that is going to destroy the earth." Troy said.
Wyatt shot Troy a glare before continuing. "What if Ilya actually moved to Ottawa because he is in love with Shane Hollander?"
Gaping faces greeted him whichever direction he turned to. Some started to laugh, out of the sheer absurdity of the situation.
Luca spoke up in a tiny voice. "Actually I think you're on to something. I've noticed that Ilya seems really happy whenever we're playing against Montreal."
"Oh, come on! The guy's just excited to play against his long-term rival." Bood was still laughing when he said it.
Troy's face seemed to morph from one of complete shock to actual contemplation. "So just why exactly do you think this? It can't just be that he's excited to play against Montreal, right?"
"No, of course not. Actually, I hadn't even noticed that part, but thanks to Luca for bringing it up 'cause it supports my argument." Wyatt looked at Luca appreciatively. "I first got the idea when I saw Ilya making his heart-eyes at Hollander during the entirety of our game. Like I am telling you guys you need to pay attention to it, 'cause it really does not stop. Now think about it; Ilya wouldn't just give those looks to anyone. He keeps them incredibly guarded. If he's looking at Hollander like he's the sun, there must be a reason, and I believe that reason is that he's got a crush on him."
"You're saying Ilya has a thing for Shane Hollander, of all people, because he looks at him funny sometimes?" Dykstra replied.
"No. He doesn't look at him funny sometimes. That's my entire point. He's giving Hollander his signature heart-eyes. Constantly. It doesn't ever stop." Wyatt defended himself.
"I've noticed that too, actually. It isn't just on ice. Whenever they're together he looks at Hollander like he's about to start making out with him." Luca added.
Wyatt hadn't thought he'd have such a great supporter; not to mention one that noticed it even earlier than he had.
"Okay, so let's say that what you're saying is correct, and he is in fact making heart-eyes at Hollander. That doesn't immediately explain moving to Ottawa for him, does it?" Troy asked, looking genuinely interested in Wyatt's theory.
"We know Ilya, don't we? When that guy likes something then he is absolutely gone for it; look at how he treats Chiron. Just imagine. He develops a crush on Shane Hollander and then decides to do anything possible to get together with him. Even if it means moving across countries and joining a shit team. Sorry guys, but we all know we're bad." Wyatt saw that most people weren't even trying to fight him on that last point.
"You know… I'd be willing to see it." Bood relented. "He did start a charity with him."
Wyatt had been so focused on Ilya's adoring looks that he had completely forgotten about that part, but looking at it now it all makes so much sense. "Oh my god. Right! Why would Ilya just randomly start a charity with his biggest rival for no reason?"
"I have to admit that even I've seen Ilya's looks directed at Hollander." Troy finally said. "I hate to say it, but I believe our captain may genuinely be down bad for him."
Slowly but surely, everyone was coming around to Wyatt's idea. Especially with the added validation from both Luca and Troy, it seemed more and more believable than anything else they had ever come up with.
"Perhaps we should continue observing the two for now? If it really is as obvious as you guys say, then we should be able to know for sure once we start actively looking for it." Even Dykstra ended up on their side.
"Sounds good. I'm not saying I'm a hundred percent sure yet, but there's certainly a huge possibility." Wyatt replied.
Once you saw it, it was impossible to miss. After the last few weeks of observing, it became clear that during any and every interaction with Hollander, Ilya would give him the sweetest looks he's got.
It didn't matter what Hollander was saying or doing, Ilya would quietly agree with anything he did. He may outwardly try to chirp Hollander, but his body language made it clear that Ilya didn't actually believe a single word he was saying.
"Okay guys, this is getting ridiculous." Bood opened the conversation, after another game spent enduring Ilya's incessant staring at their opponents captain.
Again, Ilya of course did not join them, when they said they were going to the bar after the game. Perhaps the guy was too busy staring at Hollander to drink with them. I wasn't even an impossible scenario to think of at that point.
They ended up at some decently sized bar in Montreal and sat down at one of the tables far away from anyone else. There was enough noise going on that no one was able to overhear them.
Only a small light was lit overhead them, making the place rather dark. Beers decked the entire table, not a single one of them wanting to get through that conversation without alcohol.
Dykstra sighed. "Even I have to admit that Wyatt was right. Ilya does have a thing for Hollander. There's no doubt about it."
"So what do we do now?" Luca asked.
"What do you mean? There isn't really anything we can do, is there? We'll just have to suffer through watching him pine over Shane fucking Hollander." Bood said.
"I mean… maybe we could help?" Luca suggested, eyes darting around the room.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Wyatt asked. "How the hell are we supposed to help?"
"Like—" Luca made a few strangled hand gestures, earning confused looks from everyone at the table. When he noticed he wasn't getting the point across he continued. "What I'm saying is: maybe we could… get them together?"
Dykstra choked on the sip of beer he was trying to take, while Bood just stared at Luca as if he had just told them to set the bar on fire.
"What?" Luca's voice pitched up an octave. "We want our captain happy, right? So lets get him what he wants."
Wyatt's laughter echoed around the table. "And how exactly are we supposed to get Shane Hollander to like Ilya back? I feel like you didn't quite think this through, Luca."
Luca hung his head down and mumbled: "I feel like we could think of a few ways."
"I think you're ignoring something pretty damn significant, no?" Bood said. Raising his hands in the air in mock surrender, he said: "I can't be sure of course, but I pretty heavily suspect that Hollander is straight."
"But didn't we also suspect that Ilya was straight?" LaPointe piped up. "I wouldn't even have considered Ilya being into men before Wyatt brought this thing up."
Looks were shared across the table. LaPointe was right, after all.
"All right, fine. But Shane Hollander?" Bood argued. "Seriously?"
LaPointe shrugged. "Maybe. You never know."
"We could at least try?" Troy opened his mouth for the first time that night. "If there's a chance we could help our captain, I think we should take it."
Wyatt looked across the people sitting beside him sceptically. "Sure, I guess. But don't you think we'd be getting a little too into their business?"
"I think Ilya has made it our business as soon as he started looking at Hollander as if he wants to tear his clothes off any moment." Troy replied.
"Whoa!" Bood exclaimed, then, realizing he was too loud, continued quieter. "I thought we all agreed he gave him his affectionate face? Not the 'I want to fuck you' face?"
Troy shook his head. "Then you haven't been paying enough attention."
"I have to agree with Troy." Luca mumbled.
"No, you don't. Actually, why are you still here? This is adult stuff we're talking about." Bood suddenly turned to him.
"I'm twenty! Stop treating me like I'm five years old!"
"Fuck, kids these days grow up so fast." Bood said. "Fine, whatever. But still, Ilya doesn't give him those looks, does he?"
Wyatt felt the obligation to speak up. "I've seen it too."
"And we are absolutely sure that wasn't just the rivalry?" Bood asked.
"I thought we were over this." Wyatt threw his head back, admittedly a bit dramatically. "Ilya is way past rivalry with that guy."
"Alright, alright. Fine, I concede."
"So, as I was saying." Troy continued. "I think there isn't really anything against at least trying to get the two together. If it doesn't work then it doesn't work. At least we can say we tried. And lets be real guys. Ilya would definitely be in favor of trying to get two people together."
"That's the best point you've made all night." Dykstra said, to which he got a slightly dirty look from Troy.
"Does this mean we all agree that we should try and bring the two together?" Luca asked.
"I guess so." Wyatt couldn't really believe that their conversation managed to get to this point. "Just how exactly do you guys plan to do this?"
"Easy. We start by showing Hollander how good of a guy Ilya really is. Right now he believes Ilya is just this chirping asshole on the ice. We have to make him realize that Ilya is actually the biggest sweetheart imaginable." Troy looked way to sure of himself in Wyatt's opinion.
"I don't know, man. Ilya is still a pretty big asshole." Bood leaned back on his chair, taking a sip from his beer.
"Fuck you. You know what I mean." Troy didn't even grace him with a look.
"Okay, okay. First objective: showing Hollander how great Ilya would be as a boyfriend? How do we manage to do that?" Dykstra asked.
"Ilya is always really sweet with Chiron. Maybe we should somehow make sure Hollander sees how Ilya interacts with him." Luca suggested.
"And how, pray tell, are we supposed to do that? Do we just invite Hollander to our training facilities? Go up to him and say: hey, Hollander. I know this is like really weird but do you wanna have a look at our dog? Oh and Ilya Rozanov is here petting him. Look how cute they are." Doubt was written across Bood's face.
"Obviously not." Luca hissed at him. "We could force Ilya to go on a walk with Chiron — not like much forcing is necessary. Then we hope he runs across Hollander."
"We hope he runs across Hollander?" Bood laughs. "I'm sorry, but our plan can't base on hoping that Ilya runs across one person in a massive city."
"Maybe we tell him to walk past Hollanders house?" More uncertainty laced itself into Luca's voice by the second.
"Do you know where Hollander lives?"
"No. But perhaps Ilya does."
"Okay, lets assume he does. What kind of justification would we have to make Ilya walk past Montreal's captain's house. He'd knew something is off immediately."
Luca sighed. "Yeah, alright. It doesn't really make a lot of sense."
"I think we can still twist Luca's idea into something though." Troy brought himself into their conversation. "I propose: we tell Ilya to walk Chiron. At the same time, we tell Ilya to give Hollander our congratulations for winning the game. Now he will absolutely run into Hollander, and Hollander will see Ilya being cute with our adorable dog."
Dykstra looked over at Troy as if he lost his head. "Why the fuck would we make Ilya offer our congratulations to Hollander a day after the game?"
"I don't know!" Troy threw his hands up in the air. "We make some random bullshit up. He'll be a little skeptical, but we don't really have a lot of options here!"
"I accidentally hit Hollander a little too hard today. Maybe we could tell him to apologize for me? I have been meaning to apologize anyway, but I was a little too scared to talk to him." Luca got quieter the longer the sentence moved on. The last part was nearly ineligible.
"Luca, I swear to god that was the tiniest hit ever. Hollander probably forgot about it already. I promise he's had much worse." Dykstra groaned.
Wyatt sat up. "But it's a good idea. Ilya wouldn't be too weirded out if we asked him to go to Hollander like that. It's sort of a win-win. Luca gets to apologize to Hollander without having to face him, and we have a reason to make Ilya meet Hollander with Chiron."
"It really is good. Sure, Ilya will probably make fun of you, Luca," Troy gave Luca an apologetic glance. "But he'll end up doing it because Ilya does anything Luca asks him to do."
Luca's face turned red. "He wouldn't— whatever. I think I can ask him. For the sake of his relationship, and for the sake of us hopefully not having to watch Ilya pine over Hollander anymore at some point."
"Great! It's decided then. Luca will go up to Ilya tomorrow, ask him to walk Chiron and request he also apologize to Hollander for him." Wyatt declared. "Any objections?"
No one spoke up; even Bood looked like he was on board with the idea. Seemed like Luca could get anyone on his side if he just tried hard enough.
"So what do we call this? Operation: Ilya and Hollander?" LaPointe asked.
"We are not giving this thing some random corny name." Dykstra groaned.
Troy rolled his eyes. "Operation: Ilya and Hollander doesn't even make any sense. Either we use both their first names or both their last names. Maybe we mix them. Ilshane? No wait— Shaneya— no that's even worse—"
"What are you doing? Trying to make up a ship name? It already exists, man. It's Hollanov." Dykstra said.
"Hollanov." Troy let his face rest on his hands, turning around and fully looking into Dykstra's eyes. "How do you know that?"
"I— I'm online sometimes. I see things… sometimes. I mean— " Dykstra spluttered.
"Interesting." Troy just said, turning away again and saving Dykstra from another round of stumbling over his words. "So Operation: Hollanov?"
Wyatt died a little internally. He had to agree with Dykstra: it really was a corny. Though the others seemed to have fun with it, and even Wyatt has to admit that the name has a certain ring to it.
This whole thing was ridiculous anyway; a ridiculous name just rounded everything off.
"We should make a group chat with that name. Just in case we have to communicate quietly when Ilya is in the room with us." LaPointe said.
"Shouldn't we use a different name? What if someone sees the group chat name?" Wyatt felt like the others weren't really thinking too clearly about this whole thing.
"Then we play it off as a joke. Nobody but us would believe that Ilya has a thing for Shane Hollander. It could easily be explained away by pretending like we're trying to get into Hollander's head."
Admittedly, that was a pretty good point. "Alright. Fine. Just don't blame me if the name is the thing that gets us caught in the end. If Ilya sees it he'll probably realize immediately."
"Yes, Wyatt. We'll make sure to remind you that you had no part in this if that does actually happen — which it won't." LaPointe shook his head lightly.
The group chat was easily set up and afterwards they were actually able to talk about something else. As much as Wyatt liked their team captain, it was also nice to finally switch topics after such a long time, so he welcomed the change.
Once they finally decided to get out of the bar — all having drunk a bit too much — Wyatt couldn't help but be excited for tomorrow. He was looking forward to hearing about Ilya's reaction to Luca's request. With his knowledge about Ilya, Wyatt could only assume that he'd be incredibly confused, proceed to laugh at Luca for a good few minutes, and then end up doing it anyway.
Though, of course, the main goal was to get Shane Hollander to like him back. As much as the pairing was a little strange on surface, Wyatt could see how Ilya would fall for him. Opposites attract, after all.
He really hoped that their plan could work out in the end. Ilya would certainly benefit from having a partner by his side.