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Ilya never thought he’d end up liking Pike. He tolerated him at best. He found it fun to tease him relentlessly about anything he could think of. He knew best how to get under other players' skins.
But, over the years, things changed. Ilya and Jackie always got along well, even when they first officially met, and Ilya adored the Pike children. So much so, they deemed him Uncle Ilya.
Ilya and Hayden, at the beginning, were always at each other's throats. They could sometimes remain civil for Shane, but it always ended with the same teasing and the same insults that would make Shane regret ever letting the two meet. But Ilya wanted to do this right. Hayden was one of the very few people who knew the true nature of their relationship and accepted Shane, even if he hadn’t accepted Ilya being the other half of it.
Ilya looked over at his sleeping boyfriend and smiled softly. It was one of the few days they had off together, even since he officially joined the Ottawa Centaurs a few months ago. They lay in Shane’s bed in Montreal, tucked under the covers. Ilya didn’t have a game for a few days, so he was soaking up his quality time with Shane, trying not to think about how long they’ll have to go without seeing each other again. He sucked in a short breath and quickly and quietly grabbed his phone off the bedside table, pulling up the contact for Montreal’s 15th best player.
Ilya: Pike
A few minutes went by.
Pike: Why the fuck are you texting me at 4 in the morning?
Ilya: Why are you texting me at 4 in the morning?
Pike: I have children
Ilya: Oh yeah
Ilya: What number are we on again?
Ilya: 15?
Pike: Fuck off
Pike: And I asked you first
Ilya glanced back at Shane, who had his arm wrapped around Ilya’s stomach. He was doing this for him, maybe even a little for himself. But he wasn’t quite ready to admit that out loud.
Ilya: What are you doing later today?
Pike: Why
Ilya: Can’t a man wonder what his close personal friend is doing?
Pike: Not you no
Ilya: Pike
Another few minutes went by.
Pike: Nothing, why
Ilya: You will get lunch with me at 1 later today
Pike: Oh will I?
Ilya: If you know what’s good for you
Pike: Where
Oh. He thought he’d have to badger him a lot more than that.
Ilya: I’ll send you address later
Ilya: I must sleep with boyfriend now
Pike: Gross
Pike: Why would you text me that
Ilya: Pervert
Ilya: He is asleep and now I will sleep too
Ilya: I’ll let you know next time tho ;)
Pike: Please don’t
Ilya smiled to himself and set his phone back down gently onto the table. He slid down as carefully as possible as to not jostle Shane too much. The dark-haired boy sighed softly as Ilya moved to slot himself perfectly so Shane was holding him close.
Next to his lover, warm and happy, sleep came soon enough.
〜
The next thing Ilya knew, the sun was shining bright through the windows and casting a glowing shine throughout their bedroom. The spot next to him was still slightly warm, which meant Shane left for his morning run not too long ago. Ilya stretched out his limbs and slowly sat up, wiping the sleep from his eyes.
When he walked downstairs a little bit later, he heard the front door gently shut as Shane walked in his regular jogging attire. Ilya immediately embraced him in a hug and kissed the side of his face. Very sloppily.
“Ew, I’m all sweaty,” Shane said, trying to pull away.
“My favorite,” Ilya said with a smirk.
“Fuck you.”
“Later, I just woke up.”
Ilya let him leave his embrace to stalk into the kitchen to make one of his disgusting protein shakes. Ilya groaned.
“You could use ingredients that would make it taste good,” Ilya pleaded. “You can be healthy with good tasting things.”
“That’s why I have you.”
“Pervert.”
“You literally just talked about liking me all sweaty, not even 5 minutes ago.”
Ilya leaned his elbows on the kitchen counter and just watched his boyfriend as he searched the fridge. After all these years, he still couldn’t get enough of him. He doesn’t think he ever will, and he is completely okay with that.
“When are you leaving for your parents?”
Shane moved towards the counter where the blender resides, organizing his ingredients. “I’ll shower and hang around for a bit. I’ll probably leave around noon so I can meet them for lunch.”
Ilya hummed in response.
“Are you sure you don’t want to join? You know they love you as much as I do.” Shane said, glancing up at the Russian. While there was hesitancy when Shane revealed their relationship, his parents both fell in love with Ilya and treated him as a second son. He never thought he could have a loving family since Irina died, but this was the best family he could have ever hoped for.
“I love them too, but you should have lunch with just them sometimes. I do not mind.” Ilya said with a soft smile. He really didn’t mind and didn’t want to intrude on all of their family gatherings. Besides, he has an annoying Montreal player to meet soon.
“If you’re sure.”
“I am sure moya lyubov.”
The rest of the morning they spent with each other slowly, soaking up their time together, and Ilya gladly took the time to just stare at his love and watch him do whatever. In times like these, it reminds him why he’s meeting Pike for lunch, because he loves Shane and would do absolutely anything for him. As much as Ilya loved to pester him, he hoped they could actually be friends. They have Shane in common, would that be enough?
By the time Shane left to meet his parents, Ilya decided on a small cafe in Montreal to meet Pike. Public enough, they at least won’t kill each other, but inside, private enough not to attract too much attention.
Ilya: This work for you?
Pike: We’re still doing this?
Ilya: Duh
Ilya: This is why you are 15th best player
Pike: Shut up
Pike: I’ll be there in 15
Ilya shoved his phone in his jacket pocket, placed a black ballcap on his head, grabbed his black sunglasses, and headed out the door. The place he picked was only a 10-minute walk from Shane’s place, and the weather was nice enough for a walk today. It would help clear his mind before meeting Hayden Pike.
Ilya made sure to arrive a slight bit early to find the more private tables for them to sit at. He walked into the cafe and nodded to the person behind the counter as he ordered himself a coffee to take to the table in the back. He only sat down for a couple of minutes before Pike walked in, pushing small Amber in a stroller. The cafe was mostly empty, so it wasn’t hard to spot the familiar Russian.
“Ah! One of my favorite Pikes! Don’t worry, other Pike, you aren’t in the running.” Ilya laughed as his eyes lit up at the sight of Amber, who was just a year old, sleeping in the stroller.
“Never thought I was Rozanov.” Hayden scoffed out.
Hayden sat down opposite Ilya and rolled the stroller in between them, careful not to rock the stroller too hard.
“Jackie’s out with her parents and the twins, and Arthur insisted he had to be a part of girls' day so Amber gets to spend the day with me, and unfortunately for me, you.”
“How are Jackie and other smaller Pikes?”
Hayden paused. “They’re good, enjoying having all of us home while we can.”
“Good. Being away too long is hard.”
Hayden was still perplexed by the invitation from Rozanov. Inviting him out? Without Shane? It was just…weird.
“Yeah, with the road trips and even the at home games and practices, I wish I could spend more time at home,” Hayden replied.
Ilya hummed in response, taking a small sip of his coffee.
“Oh, I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I didn’t order for you. I’ll keep an eye on Amber while you do.” Ilya smiled and waved his hand towards the front counter. Hayden just nodded and stood up to make his way towards the counter to order a coffee.
Ilya wasn’t quite sure how he was going to do this, but being nice, some of the time, has to be a good start. He really wanted to try. Hayden came back a minute later with a similar coffee and a chocolate milk, noticeably for Amber when she woke up.
“How are you guys doing?” Hayden asked.
Ilya couldn’t help but smile. “We’re doing really good, trying to spend a few days together before we’re both off on our separate ways again.” As much as he hated having to spend weeks and sometimes months at a time away from Shane, he loved the days when he finally got to see him again, and they could finally just be themselves.
Hearing that, Hayden couldn’t help but also smile. He understood why Shane kept his sexuality a secret for so long and was happy when he finally decided to let Hayden into that part of his life. He wasn’t the happiest when he found out he was dating Ilya Rozanov, but here they are a year later, and he was glad his best friend found someone who could make him smile like Jackie did for him.
“This is nice and all, but why?” Hayden broke the sudden silence.
“Why, what?”
“Why invite me here? Just me.”
Ilya knew he was skeptical, and why shouldn’t he be? They spend all their time together throwing insults and wishing they didn’t have to even be in the same room.
“I know we don’t like each other–” Ilya started.
“Is it that obvious?” Hayden interrupted.
“Shut up…please.”
Ilya took a breath and placed both hands on the sides of his coffee cup to give his hands something to do.
“I want to try and make a truce, of sorts. We both love Shane and care about him, and I love your beautiful wife and baby Pikes. So, I figured, why can’t we try and actually be friends?” Ilya was staring so intensely at his drink that he blocked out the rest of the noise around them. He didn’t know why he was so nervous, it’s just Pike. But he wanted this to go well. For Shane’s sake, of course.
“Are you fucking with me?”
Ilya groaned. “I know I’m an asshole and always will be. Is how I show my love. But no, Pike, I am not fucking with you. I love your wife and your kids, and I can learn to like you.”
A few moments went by.
“Okay.”
What?
“Okay? That’s it?”
“Yeah, as much as I hate to admit it, you’re right. That first dinner with all of us was horrible, and it tore Shane apart. He shouldn’t have to choose between us because we both love him.”
“He would choose me anyway,” Ilya muttered.
“No shit.” Hayden laughed.
Ilya grinned.
“You are good man, Hayden Pike.”
They both sat there in silence, trying to enjoy each other's company. Sipping on their drinks and glancing over at the still sleeping baby Pike. Ilya might have just made a new friend today. He no longer just tolerated Hayden Pike.