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Everyone believed Ilya was vain because he admired and acknowledged his own beauty. Everyone thought Ilya would freak out at the first sign of aging, desperate to hold on to his youth forever. Everyone was wrong and Shane was the first to realize this.
Ilya spent a lot of time with his head on Shane’s lap and Shane spent a lot of time with his hands in Ilya’s hair. Naturally, Shane was the first to notice the few greys in Ilya’s blond curls. He kept the information to himself, not wanting to sound critical of his fiance’s appearance.
It didn’t remain a secret for long. Two days later, when Ilya was styling his hair for a party and Shane was admiring his boyfriend, debating whether he should drag Ilya back to bed, Ilya suddenly froze.
“What happened?” Shane asked.
“I think I’m getting grey hair.” Ilya muttered, pulling at a few strands to get a closer look.
“Oh,” Shane began cautiously. “Do you want to dye them?”
Ilya shook his head. “Soon, you’ll be dating silver fox.” Ilya grinned, turning to face Shane.
Shane let out a laugh. “Soon, I’ll be married to a silver fox.” Shane pulled Ilya into a kiss, moving backwards until his legs hit the back of the bed. They were going to be late to the party after all.
Yuna had taken over Ilya’s portfolio almost as soon as he’d moved to Ottawa. She had gotten him many brand deals he’d happily accepted. Yuna generally had a sense for what Ilya and Shane both liked so there weren’t many things either of them turned them down.
It was at a family dinner in the cottage when Yuna was going over potential options partnerships for Ilya. “I have several from the beauty and skincare industry,” Yuna suggested.“I know make-up isn’t your thing, but maybe skincare?”
“What are some options?”
“There are several for hydration and general skin health, like face wash or serums. There are also some for anti-aging, like crows feet and smile lines.” Yuna said, scrolling through the list on her phone.
Ilya gave Shane a confused look.
“Crows feet are the little wrinkles people get under their eyes and smile lines are the lines around the nose and lips,” Shane explained.
“Do I have them?” Ilya asked.
“I mean yeah, but only in certain lighting or when you’re smiling. They aren’t too prominent.” Shane said.
Yuna and David looked between the two of them, unsure how Shane’s blunt answer would be received.
Ilya just nodded, like he had received new information about how nuclear plants worked. “Yuna, if is okay with you, I do not want anti-aging brand deals. Do you have something good for oily skin?”
Yuna immediately snapped back into action. “Yeah, of course, honey. You can always say no to anything you aren’t sure about.”
They all had their regular physicals at the beginning of season. Ilya performed as well as he usually did, with the exception of his eye exam. “You’re going to need to go to an optometrist. You might be able to get lasik surgery if you don’t want glasses but I’m not an expert in the field,” Terry had said.
Ilya nodded in contemplation. “I promise I will book appointment but can you not tell Shane?”
Terry gave him a confused look. “Why? It’s Shane. He’s going to love you even if you wear glasses.”
Ilya winked. “I’m betting on that.” He took the referral out of Terry’s hands and headed out.
Ilya’s appointment was booked for two days later. When presented with the option of surgery, Ilya turned it down. “I think I’ll look sexy in these.” Ilya pointed to a picture of a frame in the doctor’s office.
Two weeks later, his prescription glasses were ready. He put them on as soon as he got home, waiting for Shane to return from his walk with Anya.
Shane had barely finished unclasping Anya’s leash when his eyes fell on Ilya wearing the dark brown glasses. “Oh,” he muttered, going breathless. “I see why you always get hard when I’m reading.” Shane carefully hung the leash nearby, before grabbing Ilya and dragging him up the stairs.
“Okay so you’re going to place the candles in your cake. The ‘2’ first, and then the ‘3’. Then, before you blow it out, Shane’s going to switch them.” Harris instructed Ilya, pointing to the cake in front of them.
“I do not understand,” Ilya said. “What is funny about that?”
“Because you’re pretending that it's your 23rd birthday when it’s actually your 32nd. Like you’re trying to pass off as young,” Harris explained. “It’s a super popular internet trend right now.”
“Oh,” Ilya said. He went into deep contemplation as Harris put the finishing touches and set up his phone.
“Are you ready?” Harris confirmed.
Ilya looked up to find Harris behind the camera. “What if I do not want to do this?”
Harris was used to Ilya being difficult, joking or ruining takes just to have some fun. So he really didn’t take Ilya’s opposition seriously. “Ilyaaaa,” Harris groaned. “Come on, man! You promised you’d make this a quick shoot day.”
Ilya looked to Shane, gathering his courage, then back at Harris. “And you promised we do not have to do trends we are not comfortable with.”
Harris stepped out from behind the camera, eyes wide and expression turning serious. “Are you being for real or are you playing around?”
Ilya took a deep breath. “I do not want to do this trend, Harris.”
Harris moved quickly, swiping the candles away from the table. “Okay,” he said, in his most reassuring voice. “We won’t do it.”
Shane stepped closer, placing his hand on Ilya’s shoulder and giving him a peck on the cheek. Ilya’s shoulders relaxed almost instantly.
“Are you open to doing another trend or do you not want to do anything this year?” Harris asked.
“I do not like this one, but maybe something else?”
Harris pulled up a chair, sitting across from Ilya. “Can I ask what you didn’t like about this? I don’t want to put you through it again by suggesting something similar.”
Ilya slumped back, running his fingers through his hair. “I like aging. I like growing old and seeing my birthday pass. I– My mamma’s hair never turned gray. She never had frown lines or wrinkles and she never needed bifocals. There was a time when I didn’t even think I’d make it to 25. I made sure to celebrate every year I got after that.”
Before Harris could respond, Shane pulled him into a searing kiss. “Aww, baby!” Shane whispered, “Is that why you didn’t react badly to getting greys?”
Ilya nodded. “It was sign I made it farther than I thought I could.”
Harris cleared his throat, though his voice still came out a bit emotional. “That’s really touching, Roz. And I hear you. We won’t mourn your youth. We’ll celebrate you being even more distinguished. I’ll put the cake back in the fridge. I have another idea but I need a different candle. Ilya, go pick out your favorite sunglasses.
Two days later, on Ilya’s birthday, he gets a notification. He opens Instagram to find the reel Harris made.
The set was decorated by Ilya’s achievements, both personal and professional. The Stanley cup was in the background, along with a few trophies Shane had chosen. Next to the cake were pictures of Ilya and Shane, Ilya and Anya, Ilya and the Hollenders, and Ilya with the Centaurs.
The reel began. It’s a new dawn. In the video, Ilya looked to his left where a hand came out and placed a crown on his head. It’s a new day. Ilya looked to the right, where another hand shot out and put sunglasses on Ilya’s face. It’s a new life. Ilya looked to the left again, the same hand holding a candle for Ilya to take between his lips. It’s a new life. Ilya turned his head one last time and a lighter lit the candle. For meeee. Ilya took the candle out of his mouth and placed it on the cake. And I’m feelin’. Ilya looked back up to the camera, smirking and giving a sexy wink, before leaning in. His cross necklace dangled forward with him, clearly visible as Ilya blew out the candle. Good.
The caption read Happy birthday, Cap. We cherish every year we’ve gotten to spend with you and hope to have even more in our future.
Ilya turned his phone to show Shane, who smiled. “Happy birthday, baby. I love getting to grow old with you.”
“Hey! That’s my line!”