Chapter Text
Shane had no practice that day; Team Canada had their first game against Russia the following evening (the first game of the IIHF tournament). To the rest of the team, that meant letting loose and having fun with their teammates. To Shane it was the opportunity to watch the other team practice. He was excited to see how these teams operated, to observe, and to relay details to his team at their next practice.
Hockey has always been everything to Shane. As a young fawn, all he did was think about hockey. If he wasn’t on the ice, he was picking up a hockey book, or shooting and stick handling outside. He wanted to learn everything about this complicated, nuanced game. The world felt simple on the ice. He felt the most control with skates on his feet, and a stick in his hand. He had always known he was born to be a hockey player. Even if people said it was an impossible dream.
There had been laws that prey weren’t allowed to play professional hockey (and other contact sports). It was not until 1997 that the law was repealed. Predators still have their instincts, but with time they have learned to control themselves. Cases of predator vs. prey killings are fewer than ever, but still happened. The prey species were still seen as meek and afraid. Predators were seen as dominant, powerful, and well— dangerous. Even with these harmful stereotypes, Shane had never let that diminish his dream. He smiled, proud of himself. He’d finally made his dreams a reality.
Team Russia filed onto the ice surface, leading them was Ilya Rozanov. According to Sportsnet, he was the man to beat. Fast skater, sharp shooter, but apparently Ilya also had a horrible attitude. Shane had now watched Team Russia in person. The broadcasters weren’t exaggerating. He had just witnessed his top competitor, and he was ready.
Not only was Ilya Rozanov impressive, but Team Russia had a cohesiveness that made Shane jealous. I kinda want to talk to Ilya Rozanov. No, that's a bad idea! What if I make a fool of myself? But I have to talk to people eventually, right? He might not even know English. His thoughts spiraled, and started to become illogical. He watched Team Slovakia practice, but he wasn’t focused on them. He kept thinking about Ilya Rozanov. The way he shoots, his speed, he was nothing like Shane had ever seen before. Which meant Ilya was a phenomenon the world had never seen before.
All the practices were done for the day, so Shane left the rink. He took a walk to figure out what else to do on his day off. The ice had to be untouched after the practices in preparation for the tournament. His hotel room was too noisy during the day with his teammates. Well… spending the day with his parents at their hotel room seemed like a good idea. On his way there (lost in thought) he ended up making his way to the players’ entrance. In the distance he saw an animal dressed in black.
He had a toque that was cut to make room for his golden brown ears. He could have been a wolf, dog, or main coon cat. As he had fluffy, thick fur on his ears and tail. Shane sees his tail peaked out from under his black, puffed jacket. He heard a faint click of a lighter, and wanted to investigate. As Shane walked toward him, the wolf turned to the side. He could now see that this wolf was Ilya Rozanov.
Ilya leaned against the doorframe, trying to light his cigarette. Shane stood there, trying to think of what to say. All he could do was stare.
Ilya's ears were folded down in frustration. His tail was whipping around on its own accord, agitatedly. Ilya seemingly hadn't noticed him, so Shane tried to speak.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to smoke here.” He stated, and made a gesture of puffing an invisible cigarette.
Despite Shane informing him of the rules, Ilya went right back to lighting his cigarette. Ilya took a drag, looking disinterested. He looked Shane up and down. “Okay.”
“I wanted to meet you.” Shane’s ears and tail perked up in excitement (and nerves), as he extended his hand. “Shane Hollander.”
Ilya shook his hand with a stoic look on his face. His blue eyes were magnetising; Shane couldn't look away. This felt different because he usually needs all his focus to look someone in the eye.
“You’re an awesome player to watch.” Shane blurted out.
Ilya’s lips turn up in a grin. “Yes.” Cocky asshole. Shane thought, watching the smoke come out of his full lips. he kept looking at the wolf’s high cheekbones. Shane saw the ice in his eyes. He almost wanted to touch that mole on his left cheek. That last thought confused him. Shane never thought of touching strangers before. Yet, he thought about touching this carnivore.
Shane leaned up against the side of the building (trying to look cool and nonchalant). He couldn’t seem to get comfortable; his antlers kept bumping into the wall. He quickly pushed off the building, and stood there awkwardly.
After a long moment of silence Shane thought Ilya was done talking to him. Shane shakes Ilya's hand again (common courtesy). He sees Ilya's mouth slightly turn up. As he turned to leave, he heard Ilya speak. “You will not be so nice when we beat you.”
Shane's small, speckled, ears turned towards the sound. Wow! Now the English words just roll off his tongue!
“That's not happening.” Shane scoffed, but pleased he can banter with Ilya like this.
Ilya shrugged as if saying We'll see.
Ilya finished his cigarette, and made his way to his hotel. As he walked, he couldn't stop thinking about the man he met outside the rink. His cute little ears and tail, beautiful freckles, dark eyes, and cute antlers about three inches tall. That was an adorable deer.
Calm down, he's probably straight. Even if he liked guys, would he want to date a wolf? Get a grip!
Ilya felt like an idiot trying to talk to him in English. His accent was so thick, it was embarrassing. He's been self-conscious of his accent since his plane touched down.
This side of the world felt like another planet. Herbivores and carnivores living together in peace. He even saw the odd interspecies couple, as they held hands down the street. In Russia, they would have been thrown in jail. Here, the law accepts that love is love regardless of gender or species. Russians thought that couples should be able to produce their own offspring, and every other couple were seen as unnatural. That was why he jumped at the chance to leave his homeland for a while.
He needed to find a club. Hook up with an attractive carnivore, and get that adorable buck out of his mind. Not think about what it would be like to kiss him. Not think about the conversation. Nothing.
But his attempts (to find a club nearby, and not think about Shane) had failed. There was no way Shane (his rival, another male, and a deer) would kiss him. Yet, it hadn't stopped Ilya thinking about him. He didn't sleep a wink that night.