Work Text:
Heated Rugbyry
Shane removes his rugby kit from his duffel.
Comment – Charlie Spring: no, Isaac, not a rugby fic! why??
Isaac Henderson: Because I read a rugby romance.
Charlie Spring: of course you did 🙄
Charlie Spring: i don't know how you expect me to beta this one for you.
Charlie Spring: we're going to need help from someone who knows rugby.
Isaac Henderson: Like someone on the rugby team? Like… say… you?
Charlie Spring: you and i both know i'm not on the team for the game (don't tell Tao) i know just the person to help here.
Isaac Henderson: Gee, let me guess who it could be…
Charlie Spring: (Comment resolved)
Greatest rugby player of all time, Shane Hollander.
Comment – Nick Nelson: HI! What is happening please? Charlie sent me this link and omg Isaac you wrote a book?!
Isaac Henderson: No, I wrote a fanfic.
Nick Nelson: What's a fanfic please?
Isaac Henderson: @Charlie Spring. You did this, you can explain it.
Charlie Spring: it's a bit like writing a book but you put your favourite book or TV or film characters in different situations and write about that instead. and you post it online under a fake name so no one in your real life ever finds out.
Nick Nelson: But that sounds really cool! Why wouldn't you want anyone to know?
Charlie Spring: it can get… it can be… just google omegaverse. i'll wait.
Nick Nelson: 😳
Nick Nelson: Right. And you want me to…
Isaac Henderson: Check my rugby facts, please.
Nick Nelson: Okay!
Nick Nelson: What bits does Charlie check?
Charlie Spring: 😏
Nick Nelson: Do you think I'd be an Alpha or an Omega?
Charlie Spring: 😏
Isaac Henderson: (Comment resolved)
The first time Shane laid eyes on him was in the opening scrum of their first game against one another. He had heard the Russian was a fierce player, with just as fierce a tongue. What he hadn't heard about were his cheekbones – fiercer than any plays or words could ever be.
Comment – Nick Nelson: So I'm supposed to point out things like there's no such thing as an opening scrum?
Charlie Spring: is there not? then yes, you're getting it!
Nick Nelson: 🥰
Nick Nelson: You should really know that though, Charlie. You are on the rugby team.
Charlie Spring: you're right, Nick. i did join the team for the love of the game. i should do more learning.
Nick Nelson: That's okay. Maybe I could teach you some more outside of practice?
Nick Nelson: If you wanted me to?
Nick Nelson: I mean, we don't have to.
Nick Nelson: Not if you don't want to. I just mean… oh.
Charlie Spring: i'd like that ☺️
Isaac Henderson: Noted, thank you. I'll tweak this.
Isaac Henderson: (Comment resolved)
Shane watched Ilya blink, rain catching in his long, thick curls as they faced off. He started this game jealous of the mysterious Rozanov and his reputation as a star in the making. Now, an hour later, he found himself jealous of the droplets that caressed Ilya's face.
Comment – Nick Nelson: Oh! These are the characters from the Heated Rivalry show, right?!
Isaac Henderson: They are! I haven't watched the show yet though. I'm reading the books first. I'm on the 5th one. I love them so much 😍
Nick Nelson: Is that why Charlie's here? To check the characters match the TV show versions? I assume he's watched the show?
Charlie Spring: i wish. Isaac's making us wait until he's finished the books and then we're having a sleepover to watch it all. much to Tao's horror.
Nick Nelson: I don't know him very well but isn't everything to Tao’s horror?
Charlie Spring: lol.
Nick Nelson: Who's checking this against the show then?
Charlie Spring: he makes a good point, bookboy…
Isaac Henderson: No, Charles. You have to wait.
Charlie Spring: fine 🙄
Nick Nelson: I do know someone who's watched it a few times if you want?
Isaac Henderson: That's probably a good idea, yes.
Harry Greene: Oi oi lads.
Charlie Spring: excuse me? he's watched Heated Rivalry?
Harry Greene: Mate, everyone has.
Isaac Henderson: Even you? I'm not often surprised but…
Harry Greene: Gotta keep up with what the ladies are watching. All the girls are sopping wet for this shit. Makes sense to be in the know.
Charlie Spring: you're fifteen, Harry. you wouldn't know a vagina if it bit you in the face.
Nick Nelson: Do they… Do they do that?
Isaac Henderson: No, dear.
Charlie Spring: maybe. i heard dicks are way safer.
Harry Greene: You would say that, nerd. Anyway, shut up. I'm here now. Ilya's hair is shorter in the TV show, Henderson.
Isaac Henderson: Okay, I'll change it. Thank you.
Charlie Spring: change it to freckles. freckles would be hot.
Nick Nelson: Or dimples. Dimples are, like, also cute.
Isaac Henderson: I don't think rain can catch in dimples?
Nick Nelson: It can. We played in the rain two weeks ago and it definitely caught in… It just can, okay?
Isaac Henderson: Okay.
Isaac Henderson: (Comment resolved)
The locker room emptied until it was just Shane and Ilya left. Two rivals. One shower.
Comment – Charlie Spring: you know locker rooms smell terrible, right? like, I get the thrill of it but also…. gross?
Harry Greene: Like you wouldn't, mate.
Charlie Spring: not with you.
Harry Greene: Spoilsport.
Nick Nelson: Hello, hi, what's happening here please?
Harry Greene: Calm your tits. Spring is just lying about not fancying a go in the showers.
Nick Nelson: Erm…
Harry Greene: You know Nelson's rubbing the back of his neck now, right?
Charlie Spring: i do.
Nick Nelson: Am not. Why are two opposing players in the same locker room?
Isaac Henderson: The away locker room is closed for maintenance work. I figured that'd get them to share, right?
Nick Nelson: I guess? I was in France when that happened over at St John’s. Did you play that match, Har?
Harry Greene: No, I had the shits. But the lads did. One sec.
Isaac Henderson: That really won't be necessary.
Sai Verma: Well this is fun!
Otis Smith: Can confirm we shared a locker room when their home team locker room pipes burst.
Otis Smith: No-one “fucked into anyone's mouth” though.
Sai Verma: Not that we know of…
Christian McBride: 👋🏻
Isaac Henderson: (Comment resolved)
The pitch was cold. Ice cold. So cold the frozen blades of grass grazed Ilya's calves as he skidded, knocked flat by Pike's low tackle.
Comment – Sarah Nelson: Hayden can't take Ilya out dear. That's not their power dynamic.
Isaac Henderson: Sarah?
Nick Nelson: MUM?
Sarah Nelson: You left your laptop open darling. I didn't mean to read but, Isaac, it's really very compelling work.
Isaac Henderson: Thank you.
Nick Nelson: MUM!
Sarah Nelson: Okay. Okay. I'll go. Good luck with it dear.
Isaac Henderson: Bye, Mrs Nelson.
Isaac Henderson: (Comment resolved)
Rose looked behind them, before inching her hand towards Svetlana's, brushing her finger lightly against the other woman's.
Comment – Isaac Henderson: @Darcy Olson @Tara Jones could I please have lesbian eyes on this sub-plot?
Darcy Olson: When I can tear my lesbian eyes off lesbian Tara Jones, yes.
Tara Jones: We should invite Imogen to help. I think she'd appreciate being included.
Isaac Henderson: ?
Charlie Spring: why?
Nick Nelson: She's an ally?
Harry Greene: Allied to Nick's cock.
Nick Nelson: No-one is allied to my cock, thank you. But if they were it wouldn't be Immy.
Charlie Spring: what? you like someone?
Nick Nelson: Maybe.
Charlie Spring: err, who is she then? this cock ally of yours…
Nick Nelson: Who said they were a she?
Imogen Heaney: I have come out to each and every one of you individually. Why does no-one ever remember that I'm a lesbian??
Charlie Spring: are they not a she?
Darcy Olsen: Nicholas! We found another one!
Imogen Heaney: I AM A LESBIAN.
Isaac Henderson: (Comment resolved)
The season changed, autumn leaves littering the path to the stadium, reminding Shane of Ilya's hazel eyes and how they bore into his soul just the day before.
Comment – Charlie Spring: would we call autumn leaves hazel coloured?
Isaac Henderson: Yes
Isaac Henderson: Yes?
Charlie Spring: it's just that when I see hazel eyes I see doggy fur and warm cups of tea and Goombas…
Nick Nelson: I love all those things!
Tara Jones: What a coincidence 🙄
Charlie Spring: shut up. I'm calling in the resident art expert.
Elle Argent: Yes. I would also accept burned orange, pumpkin spice, golden ochre, moss green, rustic brown, maple red…
Isaac Henderson: Thank you, I will change exactly nothing. Excellent use of all our time.
Charlie Spring: it really was.
Isaac Henderson: (Comment resolved)
Comment reopened – Harry Greene: Ilya's eyes aren't hazel in the show, mate.
Isaac Henderson: Thank you. That actually is an excellent use of our time. Take note everyone who isn't Harry.
Isaac Henderson: (Comment resolved)
Ilya stared across the hall at Shane accepting his trophy. He lied to himself that the longing in his chest was for the award and not for the hands that were holding it.
Comment – Charlie Spring: so he, erm, he has a crush on someone and doesn't want to admit it?
Charlie Spring: what would be the worst thing that would happen if he admitted it? if he just said it? he knows Shane's queer, now. like, for a fact. he knows they're close. he knows they'd be great as more…
Tao Xu: Lots of bad things can happen. Lots. One day Ilya's happily eating lunch with his team at the bench and then the next day the bench is full of rugby players and everyone's watching Marvel.
Elle Argent: Sorry, he was reading over my shoulder and demanded to be added.
Charlie Spring: they're all rugby players, Tao. it's a rugby fic?
Tao Xu: Whatever. And don't think I didn't see that dig at me in an earlier comment, Nelson.
Harry Greene: 🍿
Nick Nelson: I think Ilya should go for it. He should, right? But what if it ruins the friendship? But it wouldn't. It would be perfect. But what if it did?
Charlie Spring: you get it, Nick. you always get it. uggh.
Harry Greene: Don't think he's getting this Spring.
Charlie Spring: UGGHHHH.
Isaac Henderson: (Comment resolved)
Ilya traced the lines of Shane's chest with his fingertips, soft and slow, in direct contrast to the urgency he'd felt for so long
Comment – Charlie Spring: i can't imagine wanting someone for so long and then taking your time like that when you finally get them.
Harry Greene: Know a bit about wanting someone do you, Spring?
Charlie Spring: why are you still here? Shane was injured three chapters ago and hasn't touched a ball since.
Harry Greene: I know someone who'd love to touch a ball.
Nick Nelson: I agree with Charlie.
Harry Greene: Speak of the devil.
Nick Nelson: Wot?
Nick Nelson: I just mean, when you've wanted to reach out to the person sitting beside you for so long and then you do… I can't imagine holding back like that
Charlie Spring: sitting beside you?
Nick Nelson: I mean… Mr Lange is calling the register now byee.
Elle Argent: How long is this going to go on for?
Isaac Henderson: (Comment resolved)
Shane banged at Ilya's door, blue hoodie soaked through with rain.
“I'm so sorry, Ilya.”
“You are wet. We dry you first, then you apologise for being asshole.”
“Okay.”
Comment – Nick Nelson: Isaac they have to get together. They're meant to be and they've spent so long wanting more. Everyone can see it – Hayden, Luca, Scott. Even Dallas. I need this to happen for them. Please 🥺 I can't take it.
Imogen Heaney: Me neither. Nick and Charlie, just ask each other out please.
Harry Greene: Immy, mate! Yes! And nice of you to step aside like that. I knew you were alright.
Imogen Heaney: LESBIAN.
Nick Nelson: What?? I… Erm… How did… Oh god.
Charlie Spring: he? me? you think… we…
Harry Greene: Just do it, Spring. He'll never do it himself and I guarantee he'll say yes.
Charlie Spring: i don't know what you're talking about, Greene.
Isaac Henderson: Just do it, Spring. He'll never do it himself and I guarantee he'll say yes.
Charlie Spring: he will? okay, if you say so.
Harry Greene: 🤨
Charlie Spring: Nick…
Nick Nelson: YES!
Charlie Spring: oh, that was easy. good suggestion, Harry.
Imogen Heaney: I EXIST.
Charlie Spring: sorry, does this hurt your feelings? i didn't mean to upset you, i just… i really like him.
Nick Nelson: I really like you, too 🥹😍❤️
Harry Greene: Get a room, lads.
Charlie Spring: okay.
Nick Nelson: 😳
Imogen Heaney: LESBIAN.
Tori Spring: Well done, then, Charles.
Charlie Spring: Tori?? when did you get in here?
Tori Spring: I'm everywhere, little brother.
Isaac Henderson: That's it. You've all been so helpful, I'm posting unbetad.
Isaac Henderson: (Comment resolved)