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Harris is a bit surprised to find the two men sitting in his office. Although he’s getting used to it. They were outed last year, some dumb fanmail video posted by Hollander’s teammate. It’s been a whirlwind these last few months, and in general they’ve been pretty private - apart from the video Ilya posted announcing their engagement.
“Shane, Ilya” he nods, “What’s going on?”
“We had this idea” Shane starts, “Sort of - reclaiming the narrative?”
“About our relationship” Ilya says, “Share truth”
“I’m pretty sure the truth has already been shared” Harris says, a confused expression on his face, “I mean, you kissed each other full on after last week’s game”
They had been unstoppable since Hollander joined Ottawa - there is no doubt in the community that they’re making it to the playoffs this year.
“Yes - but people not know - how long” Ilya says, “Want - control over story”
“Oh” Harris nods, “And you would like me to help you?”
“Yes” Shane says, “We have been talking about it - a social media posts feel a bit - small?”
“Epic lovestory” Rozanov says, looking at Shane with hearts in his eyes, “Deserves epic tv special”
“Oh” Harris nods, “Oh yeah, that would be awesome. So what are you thinking? Interviews with you two separate, together? With friends and teammates? Some videos of you two playing against each-other?”
“And my parents” Shane says, “Them too”
“Yes” Ilya agrees, “Ma and da, as well.”
It surprised Harris, hearing him refer to Shane’s parents as Ma and Da, but maybe that’s why they want to do the expose - so people will finally understand.
“Look, I want to help! You know you guys mean a lot to me, damn, I wouldn’t have gotten with Troy if you hadn’t helped him. But what is it exactly you’re hoping to achieve with this?”
“We want people to understand - how difficult it’s been?” Shane says, “Help them understand how it’s affected us.”
“Da” Ilya agrees, “You help us?”
“Yes, leave it with me - I will ask around and I’ll call you guys end of the week!”
[...]
It takes three weeks before they start - and Shane is impressed by how professional it is. Harris reached out to the man that made the documentary last time - and they jumped on it. It’s a week of interviews, and they get full control over what videos they add in between.
“The accident” Ilya says, “When you got hurt”
“Yeah, that was a turning point in our relationship” Shane agrees, “You need that one in there as well”
“The take-outs from that add campaign?”
“Which one?” Harris asks.
“The first one” Ilya says, opening the screenshot in this phone.
“Wait - that?” he frowns, “You guys started dating then?”
“Not dating” Ilya says, “Hooking up”
“Dating came a bit later” Shane says, “Took us a while to get there”
“I had no idea”
“Nobody did - that’s why we want to do this” Shane tells him, “It’s insane if you think about it”
“Is because if they know, they will know Hollander did not trip on purpose” Ilya says, “He play fair for entire time, he’s second best player”
“Shut up you dick” Shane sighs, knocking his shoulder against Ilya’s.
“Never”
[...]
The media about the special is insane, and Shane feels a bit stupid for being surprised by it. It gets so big they decide to do a premiere, red carpet and all - it gets backed and promoted by Scott Hunter’s new lgbtq hockey initiative, and then suddenly they’re all dressed up and walking the red carpet.
“Is nice” Ilya says, “Real date, showing people you are mine”
“You’re so fucking possessive”
“You love it, da?”
“Yes” he admits, his face going red - Ilya loves making his husband blush.
“You ready for this?”
“I am kinda looking forward to seeing your pretty face on a big screen” he says, holding onto his hand.
“I do have pretty face” he agrees, earning him a loving shove from Shane, “Let’s go see now”
[...]
It starts with a take-out of the add campaign, Shane and Ilya bursting out laughing across each other as the director tells them to be more intense. It switches to Shane and Ilya sitting on the couch, watching the footage.
“I didn’t know they had video as well” Shane says, “I knew there were photos, Ilya got me one of those for christmas a few years ago.”
“They hid it - want to keep story we hate each other” Ilya says, “You looked cute”
“So that’s when you started seeing each other?”
“Yeah - just when we were in the same city - very secretive. Sneaking into hotel rooms - hooking up mostly”
“How often would you see each other?”
“A few times a year” Shane says, “We weren’t exclusive.”
“Not yet”
The award show is next, they show them both on stage - acting out the script, “I still have the selfies” Ilya says.
“You never sent them to me though” Shane comments, “Not until years later.”
“So I guess you already had each other’s number?”
“Yes, we didn’t text a lot though” Shane says, “I wasn’t really - comfortable with myself yet. Always second guessing myself”
“Gave fake names in phone” Ilya explains, “teammates asking who Jane is.”
“Or Lily” Shane replies, unable to keep himself from laughing, “I don’t think I ever changed your contact info in my phone though.”
They follow up the segment with videos from press conferences and sport shows, talking about the rivalry between them. They show Shane getting hit and carried off, zooming in on Ilya’s face.
“When I first saw this, I didn’t understand how they didn’t realise. Just looking at his face”
“I went to see him at hospital. Make sure he was ok”
“The nurse said it was good sportsmanship” Shane laughs, “The whole rivalry story was so insane that anything else seemed impossible.”
“That’s the game after your father passed” the interviewer says, “your teammate says you went to wish him condolences”
“Not true” Ilya says, “asked if we still meeting that evening”
“I couldn’t really tell him that, could I?” Shane says, a soft smile on his face.
“Shane knew first when my father died. He called me”
“You called Ilya?” the interviewer comments, “Was that something you often did?”
“Was first time he called me” Ilya says, “Ask if I was ok, was worried.”
“Yeah”
“Was first time I say I love you” Ilya says fondly, causing Shane to do a double take.
“No it wasn’t” he says, “That was at the cabin”
“Was in Russian, you did not understand”
“That was weeks before” Shane says, “I thought - I thought it was just me then.”
“I was coward” Rozanov tells him, “Too scared to tell you”
“Yeah, so was I, I guess”
“I still can’t” Shane pauses, taking a deep breath, “when I heard the news - of the emergency landing… All I wanted to do was get in a car and drive to Florida.”
“I wanted to call him” Shane goes on, “Wanted to hear his voice - but I was surrounded by my teammates on the bus. I was falling apart and I had to hide.”
“I went outside - needed some privacy” Ilya says, “Had to see your pretty face.”
Shane sighs, his eyes tearing up just at the memory of almost losing his love, “Is ok” Ilya says, kissing his forehead, “all is good now, da?”
“Yeah” he mutters, wiping at his eyes, “good”
“We had fight before” Ilya shares, “About dumb thing”
“You asked me to go to a party with you” Shane says, “Tired of hiding, and I freaked out. We talked later - made up. After the plane I realised - I didn’t want to hide”
“Too much hiding” Ilya agrees.
“I just kept thinking, what if you had died? I would’ve been a wreck and nobody - I would’ve died” he says, “Nobody would understand - why I was - and I realised that I couldn’t do it anymore.”
“Wanted to marry me” Ilya grins, “Put ring on it”
“And I did”
They shift to other people, starting with JJ.
“I started suspecting something was up” JJ tells the camera, “And then after the emergency landing, I was pretty sure. Hollander was a mess - tried to hide it. Freaked out when he heard. Except I thought it was an unrequited crush”
“I thought about coming clean to him, for a moment” Shane admits, “But fear won out - he said it would be impossible for us to be together - and I guess that scared voice inside me believed it.”
“I suppose I did ignore some signs” JJ says, “I overheard him on the phone a few times, saying sweet things.”
“Eavesdropping huh?”
“Maybe” he shrugs, “And uhm - I saw Shane walk into a jewelry store. When he bought the ring, I saw him pick it out through the window. I just told myself Shane wanted to wear rings now.”
“Fully in denial?”
“Maybe?”
“I guessed” Hayden says, “I said it as a joke - after Shane came out to the team.”
“I was so relieved” Shane grins, “Ilya didn’t seem to care too much.”
“I was kinda a dick about it” Hayden says, “It was difficult to see them together - so they invited us over for dinner.”
The screen switches to Ilya en Hayden sitting next to each other.
“I guess he is ok” Ilya admits with a shrug, “Good dogsitter”
“He’s still warming up to me” Hayden laughs, “Can’t stand that I’m a better player”
“Is not” Ilya frowns at him.
“He’s great with my kids though, they love their uncle Ilya” Hayden says, a soft smile, “They watched them when I had to take my wife to the emergency room a few years ago.”
“They good kids, must get that from your wife”
“When we got back, they told us all about how Uncle Shane and Uncle Ilya got married” Hayden grins, “plastic rings and all - that’s when I realized just how much this guy was a goner”
“Because I babysit?”
“Because you posted a photo of those plastic rings” Hayden says, “And I heard you at the wedding last summer - telling my girls that it was fake and the little ceremony they threw you was real.”
“Is true” Ilya says, “was great wedding with Jade and Ruby. Could be wedding planners”
“I know he’s gonna be a great dad some day, both of them”
“You’re being too nice, is weird” Ilya says, then there’s a beat of silence, “You are good dad.”
“Who’s being too nice now”
“They told me a few weeks before” Farah says, “I’ve been their agent for a while, and when they started the charity - well. I had already assumed. I just didn’t know it had been years.”
“I walked in on them kissing” David says, “That’s how we found out”
“Not how I had it planned” Shane says, “I can laugh about it now, but that was a rough afternoon.”
“We love Ilya” Yuna smiles, “He visited all the time after moving to Ottawa, even when Shane wasn’t home. Helps with the cooking, cleans up, watches hockey with me. He’s my second kid, you know.”
“He makes our son happy” David says, “Finding out was a shock, but then when Shane was freaking out and Ilya calmed him down - it was pretty obvious.”
“They told us about their plan” Yuna says, “To start the charity, and then out themselves as friends - the first step. The second step didn’t really go as planned”
“I noticed the ring” Wyatt says, “Ilya wore it around his neck, the first training after we got back after the emergency landing”
He grins, “Kinda, he skipped that first training - and then the ring - I made a guess.”
“What other things did you guess?”
“Well - usually a man doesn’t wear an engagement ring - unless he gets proposed to, which is usually when it’s two men” he says, “So I had a suspicion. He would text Jane a lot and then I just assumed it was a fake name.”
“Very perceptive” Ilya grins.
“Ilya has been a great friend” Troy says, “When I got traded, it was rough. I had been recently dumped by my partner - and everyone pretty much hated me”
“Enter Harris” Ilya says, making Troy blush.
“Shut up” he smiles, “I guess I wasn’t as subtle as I thought. Ilya noticed - pretty quickly. He’s the first person I came out to”
“Da” Ilya nods, “Troy is the first person I came out to as well, felt only fair.”
“I knew he was seeing someone” Troy says, “I just didn’t know who”
“I want to say I knew” Scott Hunter says, “But my gaydar was way off - I assumed maybe Ilya wasn’t entirely straight. He came to support me and Kip at the bar, never seeming uncomfortable around other queer people. But he never confirmed, so I never asked.”
They stitched in a video of Shane and Scott sitting next to each other on the bench, years ago.
“There was a moment - When I could’ve sworn Rozanov had given Hollander his room number. It was ridiculous, so I forgot I suppose. Told myself I was imagining things. I wasn’t out myself back then. Kept thinking maybe everyone around me was secretly gay”
“You were in room next to me” Ilya says, “Shane was very stressed”
“For real?” Scott laughs, “You guys were hooking up that night?”
“Yes, could not resist Hollander” he shrugs, “very pretty face”
“You do seem very fond of each other”
“When you kiss your boyfriend” Ilya says, “Helped me choose him. Make me think, maybe not impossible to be more. Very happy I did”
“Choosing someone you love does lead to happiness” Scott says, “Even when other people have trouble accepting it.”
“Is their problem, not ours”
“Very true”
“At first, when we learnt about the video - I was terrified” Shane says, “and then maybe - relieved. Until I had to go to practice.”
They stitched a few videos in, journalists asking Shane’s former teammates about the relationship and all of them saying “no comment” or worse.
“It hurt” Shane says, “I gave years of myself to that team, those players. I considered them family. In the end, their reaction made leaving easier I guess. Choosing to play with Ilya - that was easy.”
“My team cheered” Ilya says, “I never regretted going to Ottawa”
“So - you went to Ottawa to be closer to Shane?”
“Da” he nods, “Was easy decision. Closer to love of my life - and a hockey team that was a challenge - proof to everyone I was best player - get Ottawa to playoffs”
“I guess you did”
“First day on same team was best day ever” Ilya says, “Better than wedding”
“It’s nice to play with Ilya, he can keep up” Shane says, “I got a taste at the allstar games, but I feel like we’re an unstoppable force together”
“On the ice and off ice” Ilya agrees.
“There’s been a lot of comments on your relationship in the media - positive and negative. Looking back at your story, was it worth it?”
“Yes!”
“Absolutely”