Chapter Text
“You know it’s crazy to me how no one has figured it out yet?” Ilya hears Shane say, while he finishes making their morning drinks. Shane’s gross green health drink and his cup of coffee.
Ilya walks over to the couch where Shane is staring at his phone. They both have a rare few days off in a row and are at their house in Ottawa. With this being Ilya’s first season in Ottawa he is enjoying having Shane so close that they can spend more time together. The weeks apart are much harder now that they have been official for a while now, but they have a plan to stick to. Unless the plan is about to be ruined.
“What do you mean? -has something been posted?” Ilya can feel his heart rate start to increase, his mind thinking back to anything that would out them.
“No, I am just looking at these old photos of us and the way you are looking at me with your heart eyes.” Shane says smirking at Ilya.
“I do not have heart eyes, Russians do not do this. It is you with hearts for eyes.” Ilya grumbles while sipping his coffee.
“I mean come on look at us.” Shane says turning his phone showing the picture of them from All Stars 2017. “See you are doing it right now!”
“Fine, but only heart eyes for you, my love." Ilya cups Shane's cheek giving him a quick kiss. "It is true people are idiots. How can they look at us and not see how in love we are.” Ilya smirks, swiping through some more photos off Shane’s phone. Shane looks at him eyes softening into, what he would call heart eyes. Then, something shifts and he starts thinking, becoming determined as he grabs his phone back from Ilya and snaps a picture of their drinks on the coffee table. Then he opens Instagram and starts typing.
“What are you doing?” Ilya asks, concerned over the quick shift in attitude.
“Posting our morning drinks.”
“You don’t post on Instagram.” Ilya has been the one posting random pics, at least random to those who are not Shane and himself.
“Well, maybe I should start.” Ilya pulls up his own phone to find Shane’s post. Likes and comments are already pouring in.
ShaneHollanderOfficial Instagram Post 1m ago
Picture of two drinks.
Caption: Slow mornings are the best.
Comments:
Hollanov2481: who’s the second drink for? 👀
ShaneHollanderOfficial: Ilya
HockeyDad77: Nice one 😂
Shayden4eva: Not Hayden 😭
Hockeygirl24: Wish it were me
“Shane you can’t say that!?” Ilya exclaims looking at his response to Hollanov2481.
“Yes, I can.” Shane says, sipping his smoothie. “Ooo this is good you're getting better at making these.”
Ilya ignores the compliment. “I thought you wanted to wait to start the charity this summer to announce our friendship?”
“I- I think I want to do something, and I might not, well... actually you may love this.” Shane says starting off stammering and ending with a smirk. God, Ilya loves this man.
“Solnyshko, what are you thinking? What is making you look like you are plotting something... bad”
“Have you heard of gaslighting?”
Ilya is taken aback.
Not because he doesn’t know what it means, he has had the rookies explain it to him, but he is surprised Shane knows gaslighting.
“Yes, Young explained, it's when you say something the other person knows is not true and you still act like it is. Frustrating them, yes?”
“Yeah, basically. I think we should start gaslighting everyone.” Shane looks at Ilya to see his reaction.
“I don’t understand.”
“No statements, no plans, of course we’re still doing the charity, but let’s just act like we already came out to everyone.”
Ilya smirks. “Gaslight them?” Shane nods.
“How would this work? Like, right now I could just take you out to lunch and hold your hand?” Ilya says feeling lighter than he has since he first told Shane he loved him. The excitement to share with the world his relationship with Shane.
“Yes” Shane says smiling, reaching for Ilya’s hand.
“What happens when internet explodes?” Ilya asks, not used to being the logical one.
“We don’t do anything. When people we know bring it up we gaslight them and tell them we’ve been out for awhile now. Like uh- What do you mean you don’t remember, that sort of thing.” Shane shrugs nonchalantly. This man has never been nonchalant a day in his life.
Ilya can’t help but laugh.
“Oh, this will be fun.” Ilya says, tackling Shane and smothering him with kisses.
~~~
Ilya does take Shane to lunch later that day. They are sitting at a table inside their local cafe arguing over who gets to choose their first date. Now that they are public. They need a first ‘real’ date.
“Shane, I made the first move therefore I get to plan our first date.” Ilya says, eating a bite from Shane’s bowl.
“First, keep your fork to yourself, this is my bowl. Second, technically I think it was me that made the first move.”
“Ah yes, saying don’t smoke here. Really wooing me, Hollander.” Ilya tries taking a second bite from his bowl and is smacked away by a laughing Shane. That is when Andrew and Willa race over barreling into the table.
“Mr. Ilya!” Willa says as Andrew says at the same time “Is that Shane Hollander?”
Kate walks up a second later. “Sorry Ilya, they saw your car and zoomed in before I could get them to slow down. We didn’t mean to...interrupt.” She glances at Shane then eyes back on Ilya.
“No problem, always happy to see Ottawa’s number one fans. I’ve missed you all too, and yes I don’t think you have met my boyfriend Shane yet.” Ilya nods to Shane and checking in with a raised brow.
Shane blushes and gives an awkward wave. “Nice to meet you all. Ilya talks about your signs all the time. If you are ever in Montreal let us know and I’ll get you tickets to a real hockey game.” Shane says winking at Ilya.
The kids gasp. “We would NEVER root for Montreal” They look over at Ilya. “We wouldn’t betray you. Do you believe us?”
“Of course, Shane meant if Ottawa is playing in Montreal. That way you can see me beat him and make him cry.”
“In your dreams.” Shane says kicking him lightly under the table.
“So, is this a new development for you two?” Kate asks, watching them bicker back and forth.
“Eh, old news. It’s been a couple years now. Why I moved to Ottawa this year. You don’t remember?” Ilya works hard to hide the amusement and refuses to make eye contact with Shane knowing he will break.
“Oh, I’m so busy I never am up to date on hockey gossip.” She says ruffling Andrew's hair. “Well, Shane, if you're ever in town and you two want to come by for dinner, I think we can look past the Montreal part right, kids?”
“Yeah come over for dinner!” Willa says jumping around. “I can show you my new hockey stick!” Andrew says. “Mine too!” Shouts Willa.
Shane looks at Ilya holding back the emotion he suddenly feels being open and accepted so fast. “That sounds great. Maybe later closer to the holidays we usually have some time off.”
“Well, let’s let these love birds get back to it. Bye Ilya, nice to meet you Shane.” They walk off picking up their to-go order and heading out.
“It worked.” Shane says, kinda surprised.
Ilya barks out a laugh. “It did, it really did.” Reaching out to hold Shane’s hand.
~~~
IlyaRozanov81 Instagram Post 1 hour ago
A mirror selfie of Ilya working out. Shane’s leg can be seen slightly in the background.
Caption: Can’t stop won’t stop.
Comments:
OttawaFan17 - Whose behind you 🤨
IlyaRozanov81 Shane who else would it be?
GoCensGo - Russian humor gotta love it.
BostonGirl87 - We miss you come back! 😭
~~~
Ilya eventually won the argument for the first date, with the exception that Shane gets to take him out tomorrow before he has to leave and go back to Montreal.
Ilya has overheard his team mates in the locker room mention this nice restaurant. They have taken their wives and girlfriends out for anniversaries and special occasions. This feels like a significant occasion.
The waiter is taking away their dinner plates as Shane leans forward to take his hands in his.
“Ilya, I know the whole gaslighting thing is kind of silly, but I just want to say tonight has been perfect. Thank you for putting this night together and being brave with me. Coming out even if it is in a silly way, it is still nerve racking. Does that make sense?”
“Yes, lyubimyy. I’ve wanted to be out for awhile now, I guess it is hard not loving you in front of everyone. I have this incredible partner with beautiful freckles. How could I keep what we have hidden? Gaslighting is, yes, silly, but I think it suits us. We are brave and the world can’t keep me from loving you loudly. It can deal with it.”
“Ya tebya lyublyu”
“Ya tebya lyublyu”
“Rozanov?”
The couple turns to see Wyatt Hayes and his wife come up looking confused, well his wife is hiding it better.
“Hazy! You can’t stay away from me huh? Our break is, what, for 3 days,and you had to find me and interrupt my romantic date night?” Ilya jokes, winking at Shane.
“Date night?” Wyatt repeats glancing at Shane.
“Yes, the thing you do with a romance partner, to woo them and make them feel cherished. Is that not what you are doing with Dr. Lisa tonight?”
“Well, yes but you are here with Hollander?” Wyatt says dumbfounded.
Shane and Ilya share a confused look. Shane says quieter. “Ilya, I thought you said your new team was good, and not homophobic?”
“What!? I’m not-” Wyatt says hand up, but Ilya interrupts. “Hazy, what is wrong with you? The first time you meet my boyfriend you are being homophobic. Yes, because we are two men we still go out on dates, they’re not just for straight people.” Ilya wants to laugh so bad looking into a panicked Wyatt Haze's eyes. His wife seems to be in on the dramatics.
“No I’m not- I didn’t know you were dating Hollander. I’m just surprised!” Wyatt glances at his wife for support who rubs his back trying to calm him down.
“Ah, I see this is not homophobia but bad teammate etiquette. You should have known he was my partner. This is old news. Why do you think I moved here in the first place? Also why I miss team outings. I must get as much Shane time as possible.” He says squeezing Shane’s hand and smiling at him.
“ Yeah, of course I must have just forgotten that. My bad, Roz, I hope you have a great rest of your date night. Hollander, good to see you..sorry about- yeah sorry.”
“Hayes, don't worry about it, we are all good.” Shane says with a smile. “Nice to meet you and your wife.”
Lisa speaks up then, with a sparkle of mischief in her eye “Before we leave, Shane, since my husband seems to forget everything and I didn't know you two were an item. Let me know if you’d like to join the Ottawa WAGS chat. I can get your number from Ilya. No pressure though. We can also work on changing the name.” She says with a wink, then drags her husband out of the restaurant.
The waiter then drops off their dessert. A slice of cake with one fork. It’s mostly for Ilya, but he is hoping to convince Shane to take at least one bite.
“You have to join the WAGS chat! Please, I must know what the wives and girlfriends are saying!”
“Maybe, I don’t know. It would be weird right? Me being on another team and all.”
“No, no weirdness please my love for me!”
“Maybe.” Shane says with a smile. “So, that one also kinda went well.”
Ilya laughs remembering Wyatt's face. “It was perfect. You played your part so well! I could kiss you.”
“Do it.” Shane says, leaning forward. Eyes looking down at Ilya's lips.
Ilya kisses him right there in the middle of The Loon.
~~~
Cens Chat (- Roz + Harris)
Wyatt: Did Cap tell us he is dating Hollander?
Bood: Are you drunk?
Wyatt: No!
Dykstra: I think we would remember if he said he was dating Shane Hollander
Young: Yeah Roz is hella straight
Harris: Why do you ask?
Wyatt: I just ran into him at The Loon with Hollander on a date
Wyatt: He kept telling me he told us
Wyatt: He made me look homophobic in front of Lisa
Bood: No way
Dykstra: He confirmed he was on a date?
Wyatt: Yes
Bood: Did he tell us and we are just bad teammates?
Harris: Oh my god! I would have for sure known
Wyatt: That's what he told me! That it was bad etiquette to not know teammates partners
Wyatt: Also Shane might be joining the Wag chat!
Haas: I can't even process this right now
Young: 😂😂😂
Young: Oh my god I know what's happening
Wyatt: So he did tell us?
Harris: No way I would have not forgotten THAT
Bood: We are actually bad teammates and accidentally homophobic
Holmberg: 💀
Young: Cap asked us the other day to explain gaslighting
Haas: Oh this makes more sense
Harris: Oh my god yeah that makes sense.
Wyatt: No it does not
Bood: Rookies/Harris explain
Harris: Roz is gaslighting us. He is coming out and just pretending he came out to avoid the chaos especially with it being Shane Hollander.
Harris: This will still be chaotic once everyone finds out, but I get it.
Young: Exactly
Holmberg: This is the best day ever.
Wyatt: Oh yeah that makes sense
Wyatt: It also definitely worked on me
Bood: Thank god I thought I was a terrible team mate
Harris: Troy you’ve been quiet.
Barrett: I might have already known.
Harris: You didn’t tell me!
Barrett: Not my secret to tell. Happy for him though
Wyatt: Same
Bood: Same
Harris: Same
Dykstra: Same
Young: Well, now we have to help him gaslight the rest of the world.
Liked by all chat members.
~~~
The next morning Shane and Ilya are decked out in workout clothes heading to their next date.
“Shane I love you, but leave the dates to me. My dates are sexy, romantic, and hot. This is going to be sooo boring.” Ilya complains from the passenger seat.
“It’s not boring.”
“You are tricking me into doing yoga with you. If you really wanted me to do yoga we could do it at home, why do we need to go out and waste a date on this?”
“You might actually enjoy it if you gave it a chance.”
“I tried it once and I’m not flexible like you. It was weird and I cannot watch you stretch for me if I’m doing it.”
Shane pulls into the yoga studio parking lot. “Just shut up and try to have fun.” Shane says with a smile. “ I think you will really enjoy this.”
“Okay. For you I will try.” They grab their mats and head inside opening the door to little yips and barks.
Ilya stops as he crosses the threshold, taking in the room and whipping around to Shane. “It’s PUPPY yoga! Shane, lyubimyy moy, you are the light of my life, the wind in my boat, my heart beat, my pomidor. I love you, thank you for the best date. I will never doubt you again.” Ilya says each endearment with a kiss on Shane’s face. Shane has turned completely red.
“Ilya, please behave.” Shane whispers, taking his hand and laying out their mats which are instantly covered in sweet little pups.
Ilya does very little yoga over the next hour mostly playing with the puppies and ending up with one sleeping on his lap.
Eventually the session ends and the yoga instructors explain that each puppy is available for adoption.
Ilya's eyes replicate that of the puppy on his lap.
“No.”
“But I haven't even asked yet.”
“No.”
“But sweet hearts look at her.”
“She is so cute, but no. With our jobs we wouldn’t be home enough for her, especially as a puppy.”
Ilya sighs, handing the precious angel to the instructor who has walked over to them.
“I couldn’t help but overhear. What do you all do for work?” She asks cradling the puppy to where Ilya can keep petting her.
“We play hockey. I’m the Captain for Montreal and my boyfriend Ilya is the Captain for Ottawa.” Ilya is proud of Shane for being the one to say out loud who they are to each other. He reaches to grab his hand.
“Oh, wow! My husband loves the Centaurs. Sorry, I’m not as familiar with hockey” She opens her mouth to say something else, but closes it, then thinks before saying “I have a bit of a selfish question. Since you are local celebrities, and it sounds like you enjoyed the class, would you mind being in an instagram post promoting the class. I don’t have to tag your accounts or anything but any help getting the word out about the class and getting these pups adopted would be incredible. No pressure though! I know I’m not, like, a typical sponsored brand and I can't offer anything other than free classes. Which, please feel free to come back anytime! Ok, I am rambling and I am going to stop talking now.” She says blushing.
Ilya shares a look with Shane and they know this would actually get media attention and as they discussed yesterday, explode the internet. What better cause though?
“Yes, we would love to. You can also tag us. We will definitely be back, but we pay and donate. Anything for these precious angels.” Ilya says taking the puppy back for the photo op. Shane nods, finding his own puppy.
She grins “Thank you so much! I can’t believe this. We have had the worst luck getting these guys more attention. I’m Anya by the way.”
For the next 15 minutes Shane and Ilya pose in different positions with the pups and help Anya create a caption and promise to share it to their pages.
Shane and Ilya grab their stuff and leave hand in hand.
~~~
OttawaDownwardDogs with ShaneHollanderOfficial and IlyaRozanov81 Instagram post 1 hour ago
Series of pictures of Ilya and Shane with puppies doing yoga poses. Last image is Ilya being lick attacked by multiple puppies while Shane laughs adding another pup to the pile.
Caption: We had special guests join us this morning, and I am not talking about our adorable puppies! Shane Hollander, Captain of the Montreal Voyagers and Ilya Rozanov, Captain of the Ottawa Centaurs stopped by for a Puppy Yoga class.
This was their first puppy yoga class and they had a blast. “Best yoga class ever!” - Ilya Rozanov “The most fun I’ve had doing yoga.” -Shane Hollander
They also want to remind everyone that these pups are up for adoption. Please find more information on our partners page Ottawa Humane Society. They will also be matching donations for the next 24 hours. Donate at the link in our bio.
Comments:
Hollanov2481: WHAT
HockeyGirl: Are they together together?
BostonBearsFan93: hockey players and puppies! 😍
OttawaCentaurs: That’s our Captain! 🐶♥️
The RealBood: Where was my invite?
WyattHayesOfficial: Yeah Hollander next time invite the rest of us.
IlyaRozanov81: I will match donations for the next 81 hours 😉
ShaneHollanderOfficial: the 24 hours was not because of my number 🙄
IlyaRozanov81: Oh you don’t want me to help the puppies for 81 hours? You hate puppies now?
ShaneHollanderOfficial: 🙄🙄🙄
RozanovsWife: I want to lick him too 👅🥵
ShaneHollanderOfficial: no
IlyaRozanov81: Only puppies...and Shane 😏