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A little after they get married, Shane realises that an unexpected casually intimate touch can make Ilya blush like a fire engine.
It happened accidentally, they were hosting some of the senior players of the team before the season started. As they were eating, Shane realised that Ilya had a crumb on his lower lip and without thinking, leaned over to clean it up.
Ilya, who wasn’t expecting it, turned into a tomato, making Shane realise why Ilya loved it so much when Shane blushed. Never before had Shane wanted to just hold Ilya’s face and feel the heat of his cheeks under his fingers.
Is this what they called cuteness aggression? Because Shane definitely felt it right now.
Shane keeps doing it, in different ways. Slowly he realises how much they both love it.
And it isn’t just confined to casual touches. Shane giving Ilya the tape without having to ask has the same effect.
Shane quietly taking all of the vegetables off of Ilya’s plate while keeping up a conversation with someone else, same thing.
Anything that makes it clear that Shane has known Ilya a long time and has paid attention, always has the same effect.
Which brings Shane to the conclusion that all Ilya wants is for the world to know that Ilya is loved, that he is adored, he is owned. By Shane. Ilya isn’t alone anymore.
And Shane will be damned if he doesn’t make his beautiful, kind, thoughtful husband feel loved.
So he keeps doing it, and he will keep doing it until it becomes second nature for Ilya to expect to be loved and worshipped constantly. Until Ilya stops being surprised at being loved out in the open. And then, Shane will find new ways to make his husband blush. No way is he giving up this feeling. Ever.
They keep it off of the ice, though. Because Shane Hollander is nothing if not an immaculate professional.
All of that changes when a horrible biphobic sports gossip article, disguised as concern for Shane, is published.
The article speculates that Ilya doesn’t really love Shane, but is just taking advantage of Shane’s feelings to get a Canadian citizenship. The article also speculates that Ilya might be having affairs with all the Centaurs WAGs considering how often he is seen out with them. Much to Shane’s chagrin, they purposefully ignore Ilya’s friendship with Harris in that equation. Of course they do. Their logic: Ilya works with Harris. Shane’s conclusion: they are bigots who are using “concern for Shane” as an excuse to be biphobic with their whole chests.
When Ilya and Shane’s teammates are asked for their comments on speculations that their wives or girlfriends are sleeping with Rozanov, they laugh in the reporters’ face, and say, “Ilya doesn’t have eyes for anyone else, he’s too busy ogling his own husband. Or trying to convince Shane that McDonald’s is a breakfast spot”.
To no one’s surprise, the biphobic people believe none of it.
All of this speculation makes Ilya sad because he believes he isn’t being clear about his love for Shane. He wrongly assumes, he has failed Shane as a husband.
To combat this, Ilya releases a video telling the world how much he loves his husband.
It does not work.
So Shane decides to take matters into his own hands.
He knows exactly what to do.
His no PDA when in hockey spaces rule needs to go.
No one, and he means NO ONE will ever question Ilya’s love for Shane ever again.
—
After a game, when Ilya is giving a sound bite just off the ice, Shane skates over and stands close to Ilya, closer than he usually would on the rink.
When the reporter asks Shane a question, as he is answering it, Shane puts his arm around Ilya’s waist, casually, and keeps talking. The reporter doesn’t notice it.
But Shane notices the sharp intake of breath from Ilya. He knows that Ilya has turned to look at Shane.
Shane doesn’t look over, he knows the cartoon heart eyes that Ilya would be sporting right now.
As soon as Shane leaves, the reporter asks Ilya a question that makes Ilya turn towards the camera.
His eyes are watery and there is a face splitting, lovesick grin on his face. He doesn’t say anything just turns to follow his husband off the ice.
With one little touch, Shane has shut down all allegations forever.
No one ever questions Ilya’s love for Shane ever again.
Because the look of pure love, worship, happiness and content on Ilya’s face cannot be faked.
Shane keeps their casually intimate touches and looks for the ice too.
He will not let homophobic people’s idea of professionalism get in the way of his husband’s happiness. And hetro couples get away with so much more.
Why can’t Shane and Ilya show they are more than just teammates every once in a while?
He can be professional and show the world that he owns the heart of the man next to him, all in one go.