Chapter Text
Shane was annoyed. And tired. The bar was too loud and his husband was a little deep in his cups tonight. They were commiserating a loss against Philadelphia and it had been one of the roughest games he’d played in recent memory. Shane had been checked into the boards, bumping his forehead into the glass. When he looked up he had locked eyes (as best as one could) with the orange eldritch being that Shane could never quite decide whether he hated or loved. At that moment, with the Centaurs down by 1, only hate-fueled adrenaline coursed through his veins.
The night had started out strong. It was Pride Night, and Gritty had skated around waving the Philly version of the Pride Flag. He was even wearing rainbow skates and had rainbow ribbons braided into his beard. Shane had started leaning towards love. Perhaps Gritty reminded him a bit of the menace on ice that Shane definitely loved. At that thought, he had turned and smiled at his husband. As if on cue, Ilya turned away from his conversation with Coach Weibe and smiled back. That was the last smile Shane Hollander smiled for the next 3 hours.
They not managed to eke out the win he had hoped for. And now they were at Marsha’s, a queer sports bar that had opened recently. Harris had had the foresight to reserve some tables in exchange for social media promo. This was not a large bar, and with all of the hulking Centaurs present, the space had shrunk considerably.
And so, Shane Hollander continued his no-smile campaign as he felt the hard edge of the bar pressing into his ribs. The crowd itself was buzzing but not focused on him. There had been a few joking boos as the Centaurs walked in, but Ilya had smacked a loud kiss to Shane’s cheek and the sound turned to cheers. Let it not be said that the City of Brotherly Love didn’t love love. Shane had managed a half a smile, but it was definitely not full wattage.
Now, Shane ordered two pitchers when the bartender slid over. The space around him cleared a bit and he was able to take a step back. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths.
“You looked beautiful out there on the ice tonight,” a deep Russian voice cut through his thoughts. Shane startled and the smile that threatened to finally escape died when he opened his eyes. A man with drowning dark eyes and equally dark hair smiled down at him. Jesus. Were all Russians so tall?
“Uh. Thanks,” he said, wondering how long it was going to take for those pitchers. He looked back over at the bar. The first one looked about half full.
The man was, objectively, very handsome, but Shane’s thoughts were only for his own Russian. He tried to lean around the man to locate Ilya, but the man mirrored the lean and blocked his view.
“I am a very, very big fan,” the man said. Was that a wink? “I did not want to bother you earlier with your whole team, but - ”
The first pitcher was plunked down rather loudly. The bartender raised an eyebrow at the man as they said to Shane, “Here’s the first one. I can bring the other one over to the table.”
Shane nodded and reached for the pitcher. "That would be great, thanks."
“Wait, wait,” the man said. “I am just asking for a selfie.”
Shane’s media training won over the desire to simply shove past the man.
“Sure.”
The man crowded into Shane’s side before pulling out his phone. In what had to be a record for the world’s slowest phone unlocking, the man smooshed his cheek into Shane’s before snapping a few photos.
The man’s arm dropped out of Shane's line of sight, revealing Ilya across the bar. He was sitting like a king at a high top with his arm draped over an empty chair next to him. Ilya gave a lazy smirk and very deliberately lifted just his finger and tapped twice on the back of the chair.
Shane practically jumped to attention and took a step towards Ilya. He remembered the pitcher and turned to grab it quickly before making a direct beeline. Ilya’s arm shifted from the back of the chair to across Shane’s shoulders as soon as he sat down. Shane beamed over at him and shimmied in a little closer.
He was exactly where he wanted to be.
*****
[grainy bar video: Shane Hollander leans into the bar. He’s not outright scowling, but he’s clearly not having a great moment. Someone knocks into him as they walk by. Shane winces as he is pressed into the bar. He speaks with the bartender, who nods and moves off. He closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths. He looks up, surprised, as a tall dark haired man leans in to say something into his ear. They exchange a few words before Shane clearly tries to lean around the man to look at something across the bar. The man steps in front of his vision. The camera pans across the bar where the top of Ilya can be seen chatting animatedly with Hayes. The goalie nods over at the bar and Ilya turns.
“Oh this is gonna be good,” the camera person mutters.
But instead of the expected jealous reaction, Ilya leans back in his chair and casually drapes his arm over the back of Shane’s previously occupied chair. He watches the scene with his husband play out. After a minute, Ilya taps his index finger twice against the top of the chair and smirks. The camera pans over as Hollander hurries over with the pitcher before scurrying off and tucking himself in next to Ilya with a grin.
The Centaurs start shuffling around into a group photo and Shane’s smile drops. Ilya kisses Shane’s temple and Shane beams up at him.]
*****
hockey is for everyone @iguessilikehockeynow
he looks like a wounded puppy that just got brought in from the cold
hungry as a centaur @halfhorsehalffan
i know that man did NOT just hit on Hollander in front of the world and Ilya Rozanov
im so sorry @reformedshayentruther
how does that man still have all his teeth??
81 and 24 sitting in a tree @812469
i know we usually joke about Rozanov getting walked around the block, but im starting another rumor
it should have been me @ilyilya
woof woof - Shane Hollander
shane please call me @shane24forlife
wait why did my love wince like that in the beginning
gritty is so good to us @orangeloverboy
Hollander got checked in the ribs during the game right before seeing god[photo: from the stands of Shane pressed against the glass and locking eyes with Gritty. Shane looks like he’s taken psychic damage.]
i like to skate @iliketoskate
i would be having flashbacks too
bonnie @aflyonrozanovswall
DID YOU SEE HIM TAP THE CHAIR? I AM DEAD
[slowed down gif: Ilya tapping the chair]
the color yellow @illnevergetoverhomeec
And that look *coffin emoji*[slowed down gif: Ilya smirking from across the bar]
luca art @drawmelikeoneofyourhockeyplayers
I’d go running tooguy @justalilguy
oh, Rozanov summoned Hollander back to the tablebut daddy i dont love them (anymore) @YNsoldtothemetros
Rozanov's smirk is an ultrasonic whistle that only Hollander can hear
a baddie in aisle 69 @goingtothegrocerystore
woof woof - all of us too