Work Text:
“Come on, come on,” Ilya yelled from across the ice as Haas skated away from a sloppy goal that Hayes had failed to block. The entire team felt off. They weren’t lacking chemistry, they had that in spades, they weren’t losing games, though Ilya thought their narrow win against Buffalo last night was a close call.
Ilya watched as Barrett lazily slapped the puck around the ice and then his eyes trailed over to Shane who was frowning, as if tracking the same movements by the team. There was familiar about this attitude but Ilya couldn’t quiet place what was missing, or happening. Why did this seem so familiar?
Later, as he and Shane were on their way home, Shane was starring pensively out the window, as if he knew something.
“What?” Ilya asked, “what are you thinking?”
Shane shrugged and then said, “Nothing…” but he trailed off in a way that didn’t feel like nothing.
“Hollander,” Ilya said, risking a glance from his place behind the wheel.
“I’m new to the team…so it’s not really my place,” Shane hesitated and then gave a sly grin. “You are the captain after all.”
“Okay, but I am also your husband, talk to me like that.” Ilya proposed, now that he had confirmation that it was hockey related and not something else.
Shane let out a long huff. “You have to promise not to get upset.”
“Why would I be upset?” Ilya shrugged, genuinely confused about what his husband could be thinking.
“The team is getting…” Shane paused.
“What Hollander.”
“Cocky, they are getting cocky.” Shane finally spit out.
Ilya nodded, “And you think this is my fault?”
“No…” Shane sighed, “At least, not entirely. I think it’s mine, too.”
Ilya gave a chuckle. “If anything you keep the team…” He waved his hand around, looking for the word.
“Humble.” Shane finished for him. “No…it’s look… you know after you win the cup and then you lose for the first time in the next season.”
Ilya narrowed his eyes at that. When Boston won the cup in 2014, they immediately followed up the performance by a long losing streak in the fall. Ilya spent the back half of that season sore and grumpy from the endless amount of bag skates they had had to do as penance.
Ilya laughed at that. “You think this team is cocky because they finally made the playoffs.”
“No,” Shane mumbled, and Ilya caught just a hint of a bashful blush on Shane’s cheeks. “I think the team is cocky because they now have two of the best players in the NHL on the team.”
“Fuck,” Ilya swore. “I mean, we are now the best team in the league…but.” Ilya presented a rare form of humility in that moment. Maybe it was because he was older or perhaps it was all the work he had done in therapy, but Shane was right. The team had gotten cocky.
“They’re acting like we already have a playoff spot.” Shane agreed. “And we have been playing well but if they get lazy…”
“If they get lazy,” Ilya agreed.
“Then it’s a lot to start winning again.” Shane finished. This had been a surprise to Ilya, how much he and Shane connected on hockey. It was like having a back up of his own brain. Shane saw the game and the team the same way he did. Maybe it was because they had both been captains of great teams or perhaps it was just that they had been playing against each other for so long, learning the game through the other’s eyes.
“So, what do we do?” Ilya asked.
The corners of Shane’s lips turned up and he said. “I don’t know, I’m not the captain. That’s your problem.”
“Ah, so you are getting cocky too?” Ilya reached and let his fingers play across Shane’s thigh, giving it a quick squeeze and then his fingers trailed up to his crotch.
“Not while you’re driving,” Shane made a poor attempt to bat his hand away. “And I’m not getting cocky, I just stated the truth.”
“Hmm…I may not know what to do about the team, but I do know what to do about you.”
“What’s that?” Shane challenged.
“I can’t…while I am driving.” Ilya removed his hand and then glanced over at his husband one more time, the blush had turned to a firm heat across Shane’s cheeks. He knew exactly what he wanted to do. Shane would be plenty humble after.
***
By the time Ilya woke up the next morning and headed downstairs to the gym, Shane was already on the treadmill, running at full speed, which meant Ilya couldn’t even kiss him, which was disappointing. Ilya got on the exercise bike and started an easy warm up. He looked up at the TV mounted in the corner and there was a hockey game on in the background. Not NHL, something else.
That had been one of the unexpected parts of living with Shane fulltime. There was always hockey TV on during the season, not just NHL, but all kinds of hockey, usually recordings of games that had already happened. College hockey, AHL, KHL, and beyond. Ilya kept up on NHL, that was his job and when he first moved to the US, he’d watch KHL games, often on after they were played and early on 2010’s YouTube. It was…maybe to curb homesickness. Watching KHL games on TV with his dad and brother were one of the few times his dad was yelling at someone other than Ilya.
Now though, looking up at the game on the TV, Ilya wasn’t sure where they were playing. They were really good, though, actually like really fucking good, it wasn’t the NHL or the KHL. The uniforms were unfamiliar, so maybe something in Western Europe, but they were playing too good for that. Western Erupe was shit and there’s no way they were college, they were way too good for that. The NHL drafted all the best players before they even had a chance at university teams. Ilya watched the game quietly for a while as he peddled harder and then finally asked.
“Who is this?” Ilay turned to where Shane was still running full speed on the treadmill.
“Huh?” Shane asked.
“Playing on the TV, they are very good.” Ilya said.
“Yeah, they’re fucking wild.” Shane said but failed to answer Ilya’s original question. “I’d be a little scared to play them, actually.”
“Who are they?” Ilya asked again, mildly frustrated at the lack of answer.
“PWHL, the new pro women’s league, I think this is Tronto and Seattle.” Shane explained.
“Women?” Ilya asked, though he was unsure why he was surprised. He had watched the women play at the Olympics both in person and on TV and they were always great. Leah and Max coached at camp, and they were some of the best players Ilya knew. They had both played on Women’s teams.
“It’s the new league, just started up this year but they are spectacular. Look at that assist.” Shane said as he turned the speed down on his treadmill. “I’m not sure we could run a play that clean, at least not right now.”
Ilya nodded, “We have gotten sloppy.”
Shane got off his treadmill and stretched. “You’re captain, what are you going to do about it?” Shane asked.
“Me?” Ilya pointed to his chest.
“Yeah, you.” Shane challenged, almost seductively, and then started to walk towards the door of the gym.
“Wait, where are you going?” Ilya asked as he started to pump harder on the bike, as he rounded the 50% mark on his work out.
“To shower.” Shane said, but he glanced back at Ilya in a way that seemed inviting.
“Alone?”
Shane shrugged. “Doesn’t have to be.”
Ilya nearly fell off his bike in his haste to get to his husband. He hadn’t gotten the work out he’d intended but then again, it was a morning off. They had practice that afternoon and he’d get plenty of exercise then.
***
That afternoon at practice, when Bood missed an obvious shot, Ilya couldn’t help thinking about those clean plays from the PWHL game that had been on that morning. Those women wouldn’t have missed. They would have been paying attention. He wasn’t like Shane who was fixated on hockey all the time…but Ilya was still the captain of this team and he liked to win. He wanted his team to play as well as the women in the PWHL.
He had an idea, he just didn’t realize how hard it would be to execute. This team needed to go to a PWHL game.
There was a home team in Ottawa for the PWHL, but they only seemed to play when The Centaurs were away. There was an opportunity for a Montreal game, but it was too much to ask the entire team to make a 4 hours round trip drive on their off day during the season.
But then, Ilya found the perfect opportunity. It was during their next long road trip. This one wasn’t too bad, they had a series of games in New York and then they headed up to Boston where they had the day off ahead of evening game the next day.
It helped that the Boston Fleet were playing over at BU rather than all the way in Lowell and even better, they were playing Montreal.
When Ilya brought the idea to Coach Wiebe, he thought it was a great idea and was able to get permission from the general manager to pay for tickets not just for the team but the caching staff as well. In addition, management was even going to coordinate the team bus. Ilya had been willing to pay for tickets out of his own pocket, but this meant he could spend the funds on something else entirely.
Now, they were standing in the lobby of their downtown Boston hotel, waiting for the team bus to take them down Comm Ave and to Agganis Arena where the Boston Fleet were playing the Montreal Victoire.
“I can’t believe this is how we have to spend our night off,” Chouinard grumbled just as Ilya made his way into the lobby, hauling a large cardboard box he had had shipped to the hotel ahead of time.
“Listen, it’s worth it, it’s some of the best hockey you’ll see.” Ilya espoused as he set the box down on one of the chairs in the lobby. “I even have gear.” He said, as he started throwing jerseys and T-shirts to the members of the team.
“What is all this?” Shane asked Ilya.
Instead of answering the question, Ilya reached into the box and pulled out a jersey and handed it one to Shane. “I got this one for you, special” Ilya said and then watched as Shane pulled out a Montreal Victoire’s jersey with a C on the front and Dunlap plaster across the back.
“Haha,” Shane gave a dry response at the Montreal captain’s jersey.
“Hey, they are a much better than the Montreal voyagers, this is an upgrade.”
“And what are you wearing?” Shane asked.
Ilya gave a sly smile. “This,” he said, holding up a Boston Fleet jersey with Casanova printed on the back and The C on the front.
“Boston and Montreal captain’s uniforms?” Shane groaned.
“Brings me back, we can even sneak up to a hotel room after, very hot.” Ilya teased quietly, but for Shane’s benefit he was mindful to keep it mostly work appropriate in front of the rest of the team.
Shane looked around, nervously and then gave a whine, “Not here.”
“Well, not right here,” Ilya raised his eyebrows and then whispered “I think you might like that though.” which immediately elicited a blush across Shane’s cheeks. “And I might like it if you were still wearing the jersey.”
“Stop…please.” Shane pleaded weakly in a way that made Ilya think he actually wanted the opposite and then “We have to get on the bus anyway.”
“Of course,” Ilya said and then took a risk and gently wrapped his hand around Shane’s. They tried, mostly at Shane’s insistence, to keep a firm barrier between teammates and husbands, but moments like this blurred the line. They weren’t on the ice or the locker room or at a team meeting. This was social team thing. Shane didn’t pull away and Ilya relaxed. He liked it when he could be publicly affectionate with Shane. He understood the rules around PDA, generally he agreed with them. But this was nice.
“We’ve never watched a hockey game together, like actually at a game,” Shane said as they sat down after both national anthems had played. “This is the first time we’ve been at a hockey game together that we’re not both playing in.”
Ilya shrugged, “It is nice, I think, to be able to do this.”
“Yeah, it is.” Shane said and then in an act that surprised Ilya, he leaned his head against Ilya’s shoulder. Ilya wrapped his arm around his husband and kissed his temple.
In front of them, Haas was watching the first puck drop intensely and Hayes was focused on the goalies, his head pivoting between the two.
“Shit, they’re fast,” Bood said as the players raced along the ice with clean precision.
“And really fucking good,” Troy added from his seat. “Shit, are we that good.”
“No,” Ilya said dryly as he tracked the action.
A player from Montreal had a clear opening for a slap shot but Boston’s goalie easily deflected.
“I want her autograph,” Hayes said, “And I’m already wearing her jersey. Do you think she’ll give me her autograph after the game?”
“Maybe we shouldn’t bother them after,” Shane said earnestly. Ilya knew it was because Shane was really actually concerned about bothering the athletes versus disinterest.
“Oh, no, we’re getting their autographs. I’m going to frame this after.” Ilya said, snapping the front of his jersey. Then, Boston made the first goal of the night and Ilya stood up and cheered. He might not live here anymore but he did want to cheer for Boston.
***
Shane shuffled awkwardly in the back hallway after the game. It was becoming increasingly clear that Ilya, or rather Harris, had organized this meet and greet on behalf of the team.
“They’re coming,” Ilya said excited, rocking on the back of his feet and craning his neck towards the door, even though the only people back here were the 23 members of the Centaurs. The coaching staff had already seen themselves out, something about dinner reservations.
A large group of athletic woman spilled out of the back room and it was clear based on the branded backpacks and fleeces that this consistent of players from both teams rather than just one.
Shane noticed a tall woman with dark brown hair and a Boston Fleet branded fleece, Shane couldn’t place her position on the team. She caught Shane’s eye and said, “Your wearing Kelsie’s jersey. That’s great, Shane Hollander is wearing Dunlap’s Victoire’s jersey. Hey babe, Shane Hollander is wearing your jersey, you have to get a picture of this.”
“Oh…” Shane said as a shorter woman, with a Montreal backpack came over to wear Shane was standing. “It’s great to meet you Ms. Dunlap, I’m a big…me and my um husband have been watching your games all season. It’s why we came out.” He awkwardly held out his hand for her to shake.
At the mention of Ilya, he appeared next to Shane as if summoned.
Both Kelsie and the unnamed Boston player looked at Ilya’s jersey and burst out laughing. “He’s wearing your jersey.” Kelsie said. “The hockey husbands are wearing our jerseys.” Kelsie wrapped her arm around the Boston player and placed a kiss on her cheek. Their affection was so out right and easy.
“Anna Casanova?” Shane realized. “You two are…” He felt his cheeks blush. Surely he shouldn’t push, what if he was outing them. As if it were a tidal wave, he felt every rush of emotion from when he and Ilya had been inadvertently outed last winter.
“Fiancés,” Kelsie said easily and then as if she almost forgot, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a simple diamond ring and slipped it on to her left ring finger.
“I feel like we’ve been planning the wedding for, forever, and then the PWHL announced they were forming a league and we’ve been trying to play catch up ever sense.” Anna explained.
“And you are captains of Montreal and Boston?” Ilya asked with a delighted glint in his eye. “It is like us, when we were playing for Montreal and Boston.”
“Wait, you two were together back then?” Kelsie asked.
“We should get a drink, can you two go out?” Ilya asked.
Shane was a bit embarrassed Ilya would ask two important athletes if they had time to go out. Sure, Shane and Ilya played in the NHL but these women were absolutely incredible on ice. “You don’t have to, I mean…it would be an honor…I mean.” Shane stumbled through his words.
Kelsie nodded knowingly. “I know you’re just two no names on a men’s hockey team, but I think we could make time for a couple of fans.”
“You’re funny, I like you.” Ilya said.
“I was being serious.” Kelsie deadpanned. “I haven’t seen Anna in two weeks.”
“You don’t have to, we know what it’s like, having to work around two different hockey schedules.” Shane tried to back track for the both of them.
Anna stepped in, “What the love of my life was saying, is that we would love to go out with two of the most iconic names in hockey and also Queer sports.”
“Great!” Ilya declared.
Not long after, the three hockey teams dispersed and the group of former and current Boston and Montreal captains found themselves at a Mexican restaurant across from the arena.
“Has it been hard, playing together?” Shane asked as he took a sip of his ginger ale. “How long have you been…like out?”
“Out?” Kelsie gave a little shrug, “Since High School, I mean not totally to everyone, but it wasn’t like a huge secret and by college, I was totally out.”
“Same,” Anna shrugged.
“That’s so…different.” Shane speculated quietly. “It wasn’t devastating for you?”
“No…but people don’t really pay attention to us like you they do you.” Anna was honest.
“And, we also don’t have multi million-dollar contracts.” Kelsie added as she took a sip of a margarita.
“Kels, you can’t just say that.” Anna’s eyes went wide, as if embarrassed by her fiancé.
“No you’re right It’s unfair.” Shane sighed. He hadn’t had to confront the massive gap between women’s and men’s sports, but it didn’t seem right that these women made so much less.
“So…how’d you to meet?” Ilya asked, moving the topic to something more pleasant. “Through Hockey.”
“We played in college.” Anna explained, “UMass actually.”
“But we actually met summer before.” Kelsie reminder her, “Remember orientation.”
“Kels…” Anna squealed.
“What happened summer before?” Ilya asked.
“Nothing…” Anna declared too quickly and too firmly. “How about you two, the internet has been going crazy with speculation. What does several years mean?”
Shane and Ilya shared a look and then Shane said, “Rookie season.”
Ilya shook his head, “You always forget, it was the summer before.”
“Shit,” Kelsey said. “That sounds really fucking hard. We’re apart for the first time since college and it’s been an adjustment. But our teams know and we have like a quarter of the games you have.”
“Yeah…it wasn’t easy.” Shane admitted. “But we had the summers together at least.”
“Oh…summer.” Ilya spoke up. “You two should come coach at our camps. It’s a lot of fun and we need some real talent. Leah Campbell and her husband Max Riley coach too.”
“Game Changers, right?” Anna asked.
“It’s really great. The kids are amazing.” Shane said, giving them the hard sell. It would be absolutely amazing to add these women to their roaster.
“We’ll think about it,” Kelsie said good natured. “We do have a wedding to plan.”
“Get married at camp, on the ice.” Ilya shrugged.
“Anna would love that.” Kelsey chirped.
“Hey…I have more interests than hockey.”
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t, my husband only likes hockey.” Ilya explained.
“I have other interest.” Shane defended.
“What are they?” Ilya challenged.
“Shit up,” Shane bickered back and caught a glance at his watch. “Shit, it’s getting late. We have a game tomorrow, we have to go.”
“Yes, yes, we should go, but we’re going to call you about camp.” Ilya said as they left Anna and Kelise and made their way to a cab.
***
The next morning, Ilya was back on the ice for their morning practice ahead of the game with the Bears. The team looked…better. Their plays were cleaner, they were no longer making sloppy shots. Yes, it turned out. All the team needed was to see some real hockey players play the game and do their job.