Chapter Text
Shane expected more to change when Ilya was traded to the Centaurs: more sleepovers, more dinner dates, and more sex. While this was true, their opposing, rigorous hockey schedules still limited their time together. During season, passionate, slow sex turned into quickies before Ilya or Shane had to travel across the continent for a game, phone calls were short, and texts abrupt.
It wasn’t just that Shane missed Ilya; he was feeling off. Off in a way that he could not put his finger on it or express in words. His body moved almost imperceptibly slower, his lungs hitched after strenuous cardio in a way that had never happened before, he had constant joint pain in his right knee, and a permanent exhaustion took residence in his body. Shane blamed it on the stress of keeping his sexuality and relationship a secret.
Unluckily for Shane, he was spending the night in a shared hotel room with Hayden in Anaheim. Luckily for Shane, Hayden decided to head out to a club for the night with the rest of the Metros, leaving Shane with the privacy to call Ilya.
Shaned pressed Lily’s name in his phone with great anticipation. He hadn’t talked to his boyfriend since yesterday morning. Ilya picked up without even finishing the first ring. He played at home tonight against the Islanders. Shane basked in the sight of Ilya shirtless on his bed.
“Lyubimyy, how are you?” Ilya asked Shane.
“I’m okay. I miss you so much,” Shane replied with a hint of sadness.
“Is okay, Hollander. Only two more days until we are together for a weekend. Now, you have to ask me about my day.”
Shane brushed off his loneliness and abnormal feelings. He giggled, “Okayyy, how was your day, Rozanov?”
Ilya grinned cockily, “Oh, well, we destroyed the Admirals. I had a hat trick. You have seen how angry Scott Hunter was.”
Shane smiled. He could feel Ilya’s happiness emanating. “Congrats. I’ll make sure to tell Hunter how much you love him next week when I play him.”
Ilya chose to ignore Shane’s comment. Instead, he commented playfully, “You look sexy in your glasses.” Rozanov loved to make his boyfriend blush.
“I see that you’re horny, Rozzy. You look hot.”
Phone sex became the next priority, and all attempts at conversation were forgotten.
After an hour too long on the phone, Shane had to end the call.
“I gotta go, Ilya. Hayden’s gonna be home soon, and we have practice early in the morning.”
“Ughh, okay. Promise you will call me after your game tomorrow before your flight.” Ilya pouted.
“Yes. Yes. Love you.” Shane assured him.
“Bye. Love you, Hollander.” Ilya blew Shane a kiss as he hung up.
Shane sunk back into his pillows, feeling a sense of emptiness being without his boyfriend but also renewed energy from the call. Lately, even hockey could not make him that happy, only draining him of all his energy. And for Shane, hockey had always been a lifeline. Now, Ilya was his only source of happiness and energy, of all things good.