Work Text:
BREAKING NEWS
The familiar ESPN theme faded into the network's signature news open.
Veteran anchor and former NHL player Robert McLaughlin looked directly into the camera.
"Good morning. I'm Robert McLaughlin, and right now we begin with a story that has sent shockwaves through the hockey world."
Behind him appeared photographs of Ottawa Centaurs alternate captain Shane Hollander-Rozanov, his husband and team captain Ilya Hollander-Rozanov, and dozens of smiling children in bright blue Irina Foundation jerseys.
"Late last night, it was revealed that the office of Irina Foundation co-founder and executive director Shane Hollander-Rozanov was illegally bugged. Hollander-Rozanov, a five-time Stanley Cup champion, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and one of the NHL's most recognizable stars, balances his playing career with leading the day-to-day operations of the Foundation alongside his husband, Ilya in the off-season."
"Hours of private audio, recorded over the course of a single workday, were anonymously released online before rapidly spreading across Reddit and other social media platforms."
The images changed to footage of police entering the Foundation's offices.
"Authorities have confirmed the recording device has since been recovered. Investigators believe no financial records, or other confidential material were compromised. Still, the breach has raised troubling questions about nonprofit security, personal privacy, and perhaps most importantly…” He paused. "...why would anyone target an organization whose mission is introducing children to hockey while raising millions of dollars for mental health organizations around the world.”
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AUDIO TRANSCRIPT
7:01am
[A door unlocked. Footsteps. What's confirmed later as a briefcase set gently on top of a desk. The soft rustle of papers. The sounds of several drinks hitting a hard surface (Shane mentioned later in passing that it was his Ottawa Centaurs reusable water bottle and his daily smoothie that Ilya made for him that morning). A quiet sigh. Then typing.]
For nearly two hours, little happened beyond the steady rhythm of work. Emails. Calendar reminders. Phone calls.
"...Yes, absolutely. We'd be honored to partner..."
Another, this one in fluent French.
Another in careful, slightly hesitant Japanese that earned a warm laugh from a donor on the other end.
"No, no," Shane chuckled. "I'm very out of practice."
More typing. A notification chimed. Another call. The office remained calm, a director alone.
At exactly 8:55am a knock at his office door.
"Come on in, Skye."
"Morning!” Shane's bubbly but eager assistant entered. "I have your tea."
Shane grabbed it gently with both hands. "Ah, you are my favorite person."
"I know, but I won't tell your husband.”
The two shared a light laugh before she began reviewing his schedule.
"You've got media with CBC tomorrow. Gala committee at one today. Conference Room Two this afternoon with team leads."
"Mhm,” Shane took a sip of his tea.
"We need to prioritize the donor seating chart."
"Yes but the Gala takes precedence. I know it's months away but it's a million and one moving parts."
"Understood. And the partnership proposal?"
"We'll discuss that this afternoon."
"Perfect."
A mug settled onto the desk.
"Thank you again for the tea."
"My pleasure."
"Before I go..." Shane said. "You've been doing a great job, Skye. Seriously. We're all really happy you're here."
A slight pause.
"...Wow. Um, thank you. Is this your hockey captain coming out?"
Shane laughed.
"Maybe a little. It's a hat you never quite take off. If that's everything I'd like to join the team and welcome the campers.”
“Yes sir.”
The office door didn't open again for nearly an hour, when it did the hallway beyond buzzed with the distant sound of children laughing as several men entered.
“Did you see his little face? He was so proud of himself. But also completely shocked," Shane said.
"How do you think I felt? Like a proud papa. My own kids don't even make me feel like that," another voice replied.
"Hayd! Don't say that," Shane responded.
"I'm only joking.”
“Yeah, don't talk about my precious nieces and nephew like that. Despite coming from you they are amazing. All Jakie's doing, obviously,” Ilya teased.
"Fuck off, Rozanov."
“Hollander-Rozanov,” Shane corrected.
“Shane!” Hayden sounded betrayed.
“Sorry, habit. But to your point. You have done a great job with little Mikey P. and the rest of your group. I'm glad you agreed to do this with us. We're lucky to have you buddy.”
"See! Thank you! That's all I wanted. Just a little recognition.”
“Ugh. So needy. Very fifteenth best player of you.”
“Shane, your husband is an asshole. You know that right?”
“Yes, I'm aware.”
“An asshole to you. I'm a delight to my husband. Go ahead, Shane, tell him how I delighted you this morning.”
“Oh, dear god,” Hayden was truly appalled.
“Boys, play nice please.”
“No, you know what I'm not gonna let you ruin this for me. I helped little Mikey P. score his first goal. I'm a great coach. You're welcome.”
“Whatever, Pike.”
“Ignoring you. Shane, conference room 2, right? This afternoon?”
“Yes.”
“Lunch?”
“Provided.”
“Sweet!”
"Hey, Hayd, before you go,” Shane called after him. “Is Jacob D.'s shoulder okay? He looked a little discouraged this morning.”
“Yeah, well his parents said it's another week of physio. He was really hoping to be done with the modified drills.”
Shane hummed thoughtfully.
"Ilya."
"Yes my love?"
"All the kids adore you."
"Naturally."
Shane laughed.
"Could you spend a little extra time with Hayden's group today? Maybe make sure Jacob doesn't feel left out. Pretty sure you're his hero."
"Of course."
"That okay with you, Hayd? Buddy?"
Hayden sighed dramatically. "Ugh. Fine. For the kids."
Ilya grinned. "Excellent. They will love me even more than they already do."
"Oh, shut up."
"Ilya, baby, play nice. And remember it's Hayden's group. No taking over."
"Yes yes. Anything for you, moya lyubov.”
Throughout the afternoon, coaches and staff drifted through the office. Questions. Scheduling. Equipment orders. Volunteer rotations. Everything people brought to Shane, he dealt with.
"We've got twenty-three scholarship applications still under review."
"Let's see if we can find room for all of them. What's the update on the older girls' group?"
"Yeah. They're doing great. A few of them are looking at playing next season, but some families are still trying to figure out equipment costs."
"Send me the list. We'll cover what we can.”
"I have a hospital in Minneapolis wants to partner next summer."
"Fantastic. Set up a meeting."
"We're still looking for mental health partners in Michigan and the Yukon."
"Keep reaching out. The goal hasn't changed."
"Every state."
"Every state. Every province."
"What about outside of North America?"
"One continent at a time," Shane laughed.
A few people laughed with him.
"Hey, Shane?" Skye asked, poking her head inside.
"Yeah? Come in."
"Can I steal that one line for the volunteer handbook?"
"Which one?"
"The one you always tell the coaches."
A small pause. "Oh. Sure. It's: 'Hockey builds communities. Community protects mental health.'"
"That's the one. Thanks."
"Anytime.”
Late afternoon and the office had finally gone quiet. A knock never came, the door simply opened.
"I knew it was you. You never knock," Shane said, flicking his eyes up for just a moment from his laptop, watching his husband stride in.
"I own half this foundation."
"We own half. And this is my office."
"Yes, and you are my husband."
"Yes, and you are ridiculous."
"So you have told me."
A chair rolled across the floor.
"What are you doing?" Shane asked him, small amusement in his voice.
"Existing."
"Very close to me."
"Correct."
"Ilya..."
"Hm?"
"I still have emails and paperwork left."
"I am just sitting."
"You are just distracting."
"I thought I was being supportive."
"How is distracting me supportive?"
A comfortable silence settled.
"I missed you today," Ilya said.
"You saw me all day."
"Not enough."
You could hear Shane smiling. "You're impossible."
"So handsome, though."
"That's very true."
"I knew you would agree."
Shane laughed. "Did you come in here just for compliments?”
"I came in here just for you.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yes. I wanted to see you.”
“Is that all?”
There was the sound of movement, followed by quiet laughter.
“And kiss you.” A light peck.
“I knew you had ulterior motives.”
“And kiss you.” Another peck. “And kiss you again.” The quiet soft moans of them lasted for about a minute.
“Fool around with me, Shane. Come on, undo your pants.”
Laughing, fighting to be serious, “Ilya, no. Quit it. You know, technically you should be working right now. I should be working right now. Instead my menace husband is bothering me.”
“Oh so I'm bothering you? Your sexy handsome loving husband is a bother?”
“Ilya,” Shane sighed, “that's not what I meant.”
“Is what you say.”
“Ok. I'm sorry. What can I do, my love?”
“You know what I want you to do.”
“We've been over this, you wild man. We're not fooling around in here. Ever. So stop propositioning me.”
“But you like my propositions. And positions.”
Another soft peck sound, followed by Shane's giggles.
“Yes, I do. Just not here.”
“We have fooled around and more in many different places.”
“Ok but this isn't just any other place.”
“No. This is place where you have big boss man desk in big boss man office with your sleeves all rolled up. You not letting me have my way with you in here is cruel. Is uh, spousal abuse.”
“You are the most dramatic person I've ever met.”
“Yes maybe, but also the sexiest.”
“Again, very true.”
“See, you want me. Remember time I wanted to fool around in here and I was on my knees in front of you behind your desk when Barrett came in? That was so funny. And hot.”
“It was not. God, I must have looked like a crazy person and I was mortified.”
“You were hard Shane.”
“Ok, yes.”
“And your freckles were all pink.”
“Probably.”
“And you made out with me once he left.”
“Well yeah.”
“So.”
“Still no.”
“Ok.” Another quick peck. “Fine. But tell me why.”
Shane was quiet for a moment.
"Because this foundation has you and your mother at the center of it."
Ilya went still. "And you."
"Yeah, but..." Shane shook his head slightly. "It's named after her. It's in honor of her struggles. Her life. Everything she went through. And everything you've been through and go through. I just want to respect that. Fully.”
“Oh, Shanya. How can I argue with that? You are too good, moya lyubov. I am sorry.”
“No, don't apologize. I love you and I always want you but that's my why at least for here. Is that ok?”
“Of course. I won't tease you anymore, at least not here.”
“Yes, please tease me everywhere else.”
“Oh I will.”
Soft laughter. Quiet kisses.
“I should get back to work. I have a little left to finish.”
“Yes, my boss man husband is very busy. I'll leave you to it. Meet me out front when you're done?”
“Yeah, for sure.”
The chair rolled back.
Footsteps.
The door opened.
Closed.
Then only the sound of Shane typing remained.
END OF TRANSCRIPT
A week later.
CNN LIVE EXCLUSIVE
THE HOLLANDER-ROZANOVS SPEAK OUT
"Tonight, in their first interview since private audio recorded inside their nonprofit, the Irina Foundation, was leaked online, Shane and Ilya Hollander-Rozanov join me for a CNN exclusive.”
Across from veteran journalist Monica Ellison sat Shane and Ilya Hollander-Rozanov.
Shane wore a sepia-brown suit. Beside him, Ilya was dressed in a black turtleneck and tailored slacks, his signature thin gold crucifix resting against the fabric.
Between them, their wedding bands caught the studio lights as they held hands.
Monica smiled. "Thank you both for joining us this evening."
"Thank you for having us," Shane replied.
"Spasibo," Ilya added with a warm smile.
Monica wasted no time. "What took place at your Foundation last week would leave anyone feeling their privacy and security violated. How have you both been coping?"
Shane answered first. "It was deeply unsettling. The recording device was found in my office, where I handle much of the Foundation's day-to-day work. Personally, yes, it was very difficult." He glanced toward Ilya. "But this isn't really about us."
He continued. "Our staff, our campers, our partners, and donors all deserved better. When someone violates the privacy of a nonprofit dedicated to helping children and supporting mental health organizations, it affects far more people than the two of us sitting here."
Monica nodded. "Ilya?"
He leaned forward. "I question the character..." he said carefully, "...and frankly, the intelligence of anyone who believes risking the well-being of children is an acceptable way to accomplish anything."
He paused, looking toward Shane. "Shane, what was the word I said I liked?"
Shane smiled. "Diabolical."
"Da." Ilya turned back to Monica. "How diabolical does someone have to be to do something like this? To potentially compromise the safety of children and trust of their parents?”
"So why do you think someone would do this?"
Shane sighed.
"I've asked myself that every day since. I still don't have an answer. But I do think it's interesting that after our third consecutive Stanley Cup with the Ottawa Centaurs, something no team in NHL history has accomplished before, we noticed a significant increase in harassment directed not only at us as a couple, but at the Foundation as well." He paused. "This was simply the incident that received the most attention."
Ilya spoke without hesitation. "There are people from our past organizations who were very comfortable with Shane's success when they could benefit from it. But his success outside of them? His life with me? They have never accepted that. Their bitterness is not subtle.”
Monica raised an eyebrow.
"You believe this could be connected?"
"I believe anyone with a reason to do this should be considered suspect.”
Shane glanced at him, a small smile appearing. "My husband has never been accused of shying away from speaking his mind.”
Ilya didn't hesitate. "No. I have not."
The interview moved on. New security measures. Legal action. The investigation.
Monica continued.
"For viewers who may not know, the Irina Foundation carries a very personal meaning. It was created in honor of your mother, Irina,” she gestured toward Ilya. “Who passed when you were twelve after years of privately struggling with depression. Ilya, you have spoken before about how that loss shaped you, including your own journey with mental health."
Ilya did not respond immediately. For a moment, he looked at Shane. A small glance. A reminder. A grounding point. Then he turned back to Monica.
"My mother was a wonderful person." His voice was quiet, but steady. "She loved me. She fought very hard. But she was fighting something that nobody could see, and she was fighting it without the support she deserved. I was a child. I did not understand what was happening. I only knew that I lost my mother."
He looked down briefly before continuing. "The Irina Foundation exists because no child should feel alone. No family should feel like they have nowhere to turn." A breath. "If our Foundation can help one child feel less alone, if it can help one family find support sooner, then everything we do is worth it.”
Monica smiled and nodded softly, “That’s beautiful.”
"I'd like to end with what has become the most discussed moment from the leaked audio."
Both men laughed softly.
"You probably know which one."
"Oh," Shane said. "We know."
"The exchange between you two, alone in your office."
He nodded. "I wish people hadn't heard it. It wasn't theirs to hear. Those moments should belong to Ilya and I alone. But..." He smiled. "If there's one thing I'm grateful for in all of this..it's that people heard how much we care about this Foundation. They heard our team and how dedicated and driven they are. They heard how much passion goes into the work we do, people who care deeply about children, about one another, and about the work. None of that was for show. It was just a Tuesday. And if that inspires even one person to care about mental health..then something good came from something that never should have happened."
Monica turned toward Ilya. "You hardly took your eyes off him while he was speaking."
"I rarely do."
The studio laughed.
"What would you like people to know?" She asked him.
He didn't look away from Shane.
"I do not mind as much that people heard me tell my husband I love him." A small smile pulled at his mouth. "Although I am still offended they heard me being denied."
The studio laughed again.
Shane covered his face briefly, already smiling. "Ilya."
"What? It is true." Ilya shrugged. "But believe me, it rarely happens."
Monica laughed. "You seem to have recovered."
"I barely survived."
The laughter faded into something softer as he looked back at Shane.
"But truly... if people heard anything from that recording, I am glad they heard how much he cares. They heard the person I get to come home to every day. The world knows Shane Hollander-Rozanov as a hockey player. A champion. A leader."
He squeezed Shane's hand. "He is those things but I know him as the man who remembers every child's name. The man who worries about every person on his team. The man who gives everything he has to the people he loves. The kindest person I know. The best husband." He smiled. "They heard one day. I have been listening to that heart of his for many years.”
Shane's eyes glistened.
"You make me sound much better than I am."
"No. I make you sound exactly as you are."
For a moment neither of them spoke. They simply looked at each other.
Monica smiled warmly. "Well... it's clear your Foundation is built on compassion. And it's equally clear your marriage is too. Thank you both for joining us this evening."
"Was a pleasure, Monica. Thank you."
"Thank you," Ilya echoed.
Yuna opened the front door before they even reached it. "My boys!" She wrapped both of them in a hug, pulling them close enough that they both laughed. "You both did such a good job. I'm very proud. Clearly I trained you well."
David appeared from the kitchen, a dish towel thrown over one shoulder. "I don't think I've ever been so relieved to watch an interview end. Ilya, and you were very well behaved."
"Yes. Shane made me promise." Ilya looked pleased with himself. "He said he would make it worth my while."
"Ilya," Shane blushed.
"What?"
"That was private."
"Well I am looking forward to it."
David laughed as Shane shook his head.
"But first," Ilya continued, "I am looking forward to food. I am famished. Starving."
"Well," David said, turning back toward the kitchen, "that's a problem we can solve."
Dinner stretched for hours. They talked about camp. About the kids. About hockey. About the investigation. About media next steps.
Then Shane's phone buzzed. He had had it off during the interview and dinner, and had just turned it back on. He glanced down. A donation notification.
Then another. Then another. His expression changed.
"Ilya..."
"Hm?"
"We just passed one million." He paused. "And it's still going."
Yuna covered her mouth.
David leaned forward. "The interview?"
Shane nodded slowly. "I think so."
Yuna smiled, shaking her head. "Whoever did this... I don't think this is the outcome they were hoping for. Fuck them.”
The whole table chuckled.
Under the table, Ilya found Shane's hand. "We'll be able to do even more."
Shane looked at him. "Reach more kids."
"More funding to MHOs.”
Their fingers tightened together.
Shane smiled.
And Ilya leaned in, and kissed him.