Comics What Comics?

Rip Val Kilmer 1959-2025

[troy-barrett-love]

I just realised, none of the Centaurs, except for Ilya, know how much of an asshole Troy's father is.

They also don't know about Adrian.

While I like he never uses either of those things as an excuse for his previous behaviour, I wish we would see them react to it, putting the pieces together and gaining insight into why Troy behaved the way he did.

[fakeicecubes]

So, like many people, I love to put my comfort characters through The Terrors TM,and my new obsession is putting Troy through The Terrors.

Um so like…here’s a list of some of The Terrors (also some Situations TM) I like to put Troy in

TW- death, child abuse, SH, rape, chronic illness.

Dead Mom- I know in Role Model Troy’s mom is very much alive and they do have a pretty good relationship, but like…dead mom just really helps to add to the next Terror…

Abusive Dad- again in the story Curtis is definitely abusing Troy in some way (we just never will be able to understand the scope bc it’s Troy), but I lowkey just like making it worse, sorry Troy

Past self-harm issues- now I don’t think in the main story he would experience this, but I do think Troy would in his teens/year twenties when he’s still with Toronto. This could be mainly bc of his self-worth issues and him thinking he deserves it (which could possibly cause a relapse when he is in Ottawa?), but I think it could also be in part a control thing? Or I could also see it in a way that it’s like a release thing. Idk if that makes sense tho (also like not to get like morbid but I think he would cut or scratch up his skin to the point where he is bleeding, exercising to the point of collapse, and sometimes purposefully not eat even when he knows he should(like after a tough practice or game))

Give him (bad) siblings- okay, I should be clear when I say ‘bad’ I don’t think it’s a situation like Ilya and Alexi, where Alexi is just a bad brother in the way he is intentionally abusive and manipulative of Ilya. Instead, I think his siblings would be bad in the sense that they unintentionally gave Troy a lot of his bad habits. Especially if they are older than Troy but could also apply to younger siblings.

Rape Victim- This is something that I am always a little unsure about how to approach. I think there are multiple people in his life who maybe could be responsible for violating him. In some fics (like one) I've seen people bring up the idea of a past coach. I dont think he raped Troy, but maybe he did molest Troy and Troy tried to tell his dad and was told he was being stupid and was being horrible for trying to ruin that poor mans life. I also can see Troy and Adrians relationship coming to the point where this happens. The last person I can see is Dallas Kent (shocker) but that is a whole other can of worms.

Chronic Illness- now there is a balancing act with this idea since Troy can have health issues but they can’t be so bad that it stops him from playing all together. I could see Troy struggling with migraines, type 1 diabetes, and epilepsy as well as possibly joint issues and POTS but those ones I’m not as certain.

[equippedtolove]

SOMEWHERE in the depths of shane's messages there is a groupchat called 'our overlord and majesty jane + her servants (the raiders)' where, a couple weeks after tunameltgate, (and ilya seemingly being possessed by a soviet war general during practice) cliff had personally taken it upon himself to have every single raiders player beg and plead jane to take ilya back, for fear of their lives. the chat periodically comes alive during progressions in their relationship ('can't believe roz is whipped enough to move to OTTAWA, man!') and you BETTER believe it explodes after the fanmail video.

[creamsiclemelt]

I think a misunderstanding I see within fandom sometimes about junior hockey is that it isn't serious and isn't full of people who take hockey verrrry seriously.

juniors teams are money makers and bring in a lot of revenue. a lot of the guys who play there have hopes to be drafted into the NHL and if not, then go play professional hockey in europe or something. a lot of the boys shane plays hockey with are desperate to go pro and making it into juniors in itself is something that's big.

a lot of their coaches are using it as a stepping stone to go coach in the nhl. they take winning seriously. they take drafting prospects seriously. they take their rink seriously and their practices seriously and their community commitments... somewhat seriously.

so the guys shane played with in juniors are guys who had dreams (and in some cases, great chances at going pro). and isn't that just even more fucking delicious?

shane hollander, generational talent who everyone can tell is going to the nhl even as fellow teammates know they will try and have a chance but also could not—some of them even know they probably won't but they play every game like they might just in case any scout is in the stands.

and they love holly because he's so fucking good and he helps them win and he's a little weird but he's their guy.

but also. theyre undeniably jealous.

holly's going to play in the nhl. he's gonna get paid big bucks. he's gonna be famous.

i just think it makes it sooo fun to chew on because everyone takes it seriously. everyone cares. everyone wants to win. everyone wants to keep playing hockey. and not everyone has a future in it.

[scriptiodaemon]

everyone knew ilya is insufferable.

so when they started officially dating, shane was preparing himself for what he's gonna do when ilya will catch a flu. it was challenging enough managing with his own... body fluids (HA!). and he genuinely didn't know how he's gonna react to ilya's mucus all around. but he was much more scared that a disease would turn ilya into a catastrophe.

he was very dedicated to be a good boyfriend and do whatever needs to be done, though.

what a shock he had, when he figured out, that when he's sick, ilya turns small, trying to hide in the darkest place and disappear. he is quiet, lying in the bed curled into a ball and shivering with fever. shane heart broke, when ilya started to apologize, almost crying, that he couldn't make him food and he's a shitty boyfriend.

never shane wanted to kill more, understanding that this is how probably ilya's family treated him every time he got sick since his mother died.

shane hugged him tightly, peppering his damp with sweat curls, mumbling tender words and promising himself he'll never let his baby feel sorry again for feeling bad.

[bugslibraryy]

Ilya teaching over eager Shane during the hookup era how to deep throat cock, his thumb hooked inside Shane’s cheek, hand on the back of his neck low voice coaching him through it because Shane had managed to mumble out a “want to do that” when Ilya had taken him to the back of his throat, nose pressed to Shane’s groin as he had swallowed swallowed swallowed him down. Ilya groaning and whispering “good boy” and “nice and messy, make it easier” and “that’s it, breath through your nose and keep going slow take all of it, relax your jaw and let me fill your throat, feel where it belongs”Shane going to fucking molasses over it, his mouth and throat so full and all the instruction and praise making his heart all horny and achy too.

[bugslibraryy]

Ok wait I fell victim to no post night shift nap and passed out but I’m back ! Because I need to say that when Shane gags, because he does- and not a sexy sounding gag but like he thinks oh I’m getting it and he pushes forward too much too fast and like gags hard and has to pull off to swallow against a following gag pushing up his throat- he’s like terrified a little. Because Shane has had bad sex- in terms of, sec he couldn’t perform in and he’s having flashbacks of not being able to get hard for his high-school girlfriends wandering hand and the fucking fear and panic of disappointing someone. But Ilya just clicks his tongue and rubs his thumb over Shane’s mouth and is cupping his jaw in one hand and drawing him up and leaning down to meet Shane half way. He nuzzles their lips together ans kisses next to Shane’s nose. “Ah. Should have known, mr competitive. There is no Stanley cup for sucking cock Hollander, just making me feel good and you feel good da?” And his other hand is rubbing over Shane’s chest, fingers working his nipple in a way that’s making him shivery and keeping him hard.

“Yeah?” Ilya asks and Shane just blinks because his eyes are burning and they aren’t tears not really and then Ilya I asking, “we are good at making you feel good yes? And making me feel good yes?” And to that Shane nods because yes. “Mm then, let me show you this trick too Hollander, how good it feels for both of us” he kisses Shane’s mouth twice and pulls back, gripping his cheeks tighter before softening his touch.

Shane stays where Ilya has pulled him, still on his knees. “You like being good, so be good and listen to me” Ilya whispers and it feels warm, like praise and Shane says “okay” and Ilya says “you want it again?” And Shane nods, flushing and says “yes” and then “please” and Ilya groans and he’s rubbing his cock over Shane’s mouth before pushing in, thumb gently hooking the corner of his mouth. “Like this da? Let me give you it Hollander, you can take it, so good at taking me inside, here too just relax now and breathe” and Shane breaths and focuses on relaxing is jaw, throat, eyes closed and Ilya is giving him little by little. It makes Shane whole body buzz to go slow, but he does, inch by inch as given to him by Ilya.

“There we go” Ilya mutters half to himself and Shane shivers when he feels Ilya in the back of his throat, takes a slow breath instead of letting it spasm, thinks about the wet hot warm pleasure of taking Ilya inside his hole and how he’s made to take it. He is. “Ah. Fucking pretty” Ilya whines and it makes Shane’s ears tingle, cock so fucking hard it’s dripping onto the carpet below him. “Doing good Hollander, fuck. You love it, being good at things, good at my cock” and Shane nods, swallows and lets Ilya sink him all the way down, until he gags soft, able to swallow and relax and breathe.

He stays pin still when he finds a point he can hold Ilya, where his mind whites out and his body starts to fall away from anywhere but where he is holding the shape and weight and size of Ilya, where the saliva is pooling at his lips and chin already.

Ilya’s words are Russian then, cooing low and his hand not hooked by his thumb into the heat of Shane is combing through the top of his hair and then down over the back of his head, petting rhythmically and Shane just sinks and sinks and sinks, heard Ilya mutter “of course, perfect here too” before he cums hands free, messy shooting hot drips that he doesn’t even feel rip through him like an orgasm but more crash through him sweet like a wave and pulling him deeper under tide tide tide. Ilya whines, some of Shane’s cum had hit his feet, shins and he pets Shane’s cheek, warm palm rubbing. He slides his thumb out and traces his wet mouth perfect deep seal.

“Fuck, you’re dripping” Ilya praises and Shane thinks he means his cock but then he feels Ilya’s hand under his chin, smearing wet saliva from under his bottom lip over his throat and down his chest.

Shane’s hard again or maybe never was soft and it makes him fuss, rock his hips and the shifting makes him gag, a small splutter and Ilya is easing him up up. Shane fucking whiiiines at the loss and shakes his head and hands fly up to grip at Ilya’s thighs and Ilya croons, hand cups the side of his face and thumb rubs at his earlobe on the right. “Just half, just half Hollander, god. Then you can have it again. Such a good slut” and Shane is appeased, hums when Ilya’s hand tangles with one of his own.

“Mm just like this, slow and take it all, make that needy cock make a mess for me again and then I’ll fill your throat yes?” Shane’s ears are ringing but he’s nodding, breathing in slow through his mouth and waiting for Ilya to help him bring his head down again, to find that point of total fullness again. Just like they both need.

[upset-to-dead]

Ilya: Marly, I need to tell you something because you are my friend.

Marleau: Yeah whats up?

Ilya: I am bisexual

Marleau: ...okay?

Ilya: The fuck does that mean?

Marleau: I already know that

Ilya: How did you know?

Marleau: You've literally begged to suck my dick at least twice while hammered

Ilya: .....

Ilya: .....

Ilya: .....

Ilya: Did you let me?

Marleau: Uh, yeah. Duh.

[allstarrocks]

ilya holding up the condom and pushing a thumb tack through it while shane watches before fucking him while shane begs him to pull out (he doesnt)

[wermbrain]

Cliff Marleau collects magnets. The tacky touristy ones, made of polyester resin in bright, solid colors. He puts them on his fridge and they make a gaudy centerpiece to his otherwise quite modern and tasteful kitchen. They remind him how lucky he is he gets to travel so much, and for his job, no less. Before he was thirteen, the furthest he had gone from his hometown in Louisiana was Southern Ohio, when his mom packed him and his little sister up and hauled them away from his father.

But Southern Ohio had a hockey rink, and hockey ended up saving them all. And now Cliff gets to travel, and pay his mothers mortgage, and send his sister through med school, and collect tiny, cheesy magnets for his fridge.

When Roz first came over to his place, he asked Cliff about almost every single one. Why he picked the Space Needle over Mt. Ranier, why he doesn't have the Hollywood sign, what this landmark on the Winnipeg one was. Roz was good at this, at reaching out, connecting. He was really bad at being reached out to.

The next fall, Roz came back from Russia with a magnet to add to his collection, "Moscow" written underneath a building. When Cliff asked what the building was, he explained it was the Bolshoi Theatre, and how his mother would take him and his brother to go see the ballet, and how he pretended it was boring but really, he always thought it was amazing.

Seven months later, Cliff was grabbing a drink for a girl he invited over, when he realized the Moscow magnet was missing. He panicked, and with no explanation to his date, quickly dropped to the floor and started grabbing behind the cabinets, under the fridge. He audibly exhaled when he felt the rubbery edges of it tucked up against the floorboards, and nothing felt right until it was back, stuck to the fridge with the rest of them.

It's that stupid magnet that Cliff is thinking about when Roz tells him he's requesting a trade to Ottawa.

[creamsiclemelt]

i think sooo much about ilya taking shane to his tailor and sitting back and watching shane getting fitted etc. and maybe hes talking to the tailor in russian and no one is asking shane for his opinion and. well. you know.

[jimmysownworld]

called up cliffnation because they can see into my minds eye and walked away with my woes fixed and my ideas solidified, everyone hold my hand and walk with me for another cliffnation discussion.

so, cliff is bisexual as we all well know and oblivious to this fact for a long long long time as we all well know. however☝️once he realizes, he meets this really chill guy who he really likes and hes dating him for a year or so sort of publicly in the way that he just posts about it casually in a “date night with my boy❤️” kinda vibe like he would with a woman hes dating. its more or less called an open secret because cliff never comes out, he just treats it like any other relationship because for him, thats basically what it is.

cliff is subject pretty quickly to homophobic chirps on the ice from the usual suspects, toronto, vegas, florida, guys who do the same to hunter and barrett and ilya and shane are now hitting cliff with the stupid shit but cliff has never once dropped gloves over it because it genuinely doesnt bother him. these guys dont know his boyfriend, have never met him or cliff himself off the ice, they know nothing about his life and he couldnt care less what they have to say because he doesnt even respect them as a person, much less a player. so they give him the same shit and all cliff does is slam them into the boards and goad them into starting fights for power plays, it kind of drives them insane that hes so unshakable.

a year and a half into dating cliffs partner sits him down and tells him that shes trans, and would like to socially and physically transition. shes obviously a bit emotional and nervous to say all this to her boyfriend who plays hockey for a living, explaining that shes happy with him and that she loves him but she cant keep living like this and that she needs to do something about it or her mental health is going to get so much worse, and shes finally getting to the “i understand if you dont want to be with me anymore this isnt what you signed up for” bit of her speech when she finally looks over at cliff and he’s straight cheesing at her so big she has to stop and ask why hes smiling. and listen, cliff is a great boyfriend and he loves his partner, but he is at the end of the day still a himbo. she asks why hes smiling and he is completely honest when he says “so you’re gonna get like, boobs?”

its completely stupid and a bit insensitive but shes been dating him for a year and a half and this isnt new behavior, shes honestly relieved that his biggest question right now is if she wants a boob job and not how fast can she move out. cliff is a boob guy, hes excited as fuck at the prospect of future boobs AND hes now Winning At Being Bisexual because he had a boyfriend and NOW he has a girlfriend and he didnt even have to meet someone new or lose the person he loves its the same person hes loved this entire time!!!

so, he treats this whole thing a bit more delicately publicly because he knows How The League Is and would rather kill himself than expose his girlfriend to transphobic shit when she’s finally coming out of her shell so much and shes looking so much happier every day cliff kind of wonders how he missed how sad she always seemed before. players assume they can do the same shit as always, but now they think they can be transphobic too and get the regular general non reaction.

anyways so what im trying to say is that the first time hes playing one of Those Teams one of the prolifically homophobic players says something transphobic about his girlfriend and cliffs eyes constrict to pinpoints and once he gets a hand on the other guy its over, he doesnt stop until theres 2 guys on each arm pulling him away and hes still trying to swing, he wants him dead but one of his teammates says he was out cold when they took him off the ice which is close enough for cliff to be satisfied. the other guy ends up on a ventilator on the way to the hospital, cliff is suspended from multiple games and fined to the max from the league and arrested for assault but ultimately takes a plea deal for community service and like a 50,000 dollar fine and has to pay the other guys hospital bills.

off the record ilya pays for it all because he loves cliffs girlfriend, he thinks shes one of the coolest people hes ever met and entirely too cool to be dating cliff which he has thought since he met her and it has only solidified since she came out and he has seen how she is dressing. that and he hates that player and that fight is one of his favorite videos on the internet, genuinely he watches it when he’s upset.

cliffs girlfriend thinks hes an idiot for letting what the other guy said get to him but appreciates that hes willing to drop gloves over her while she gets used to being out publicly and navigates medically transitioning. cliff, of course, insists on paying for it all so she never has to worry about the money and can just focus on being happy.

cliff marleau my big dumb idiot himbo with a beautiful girlfriend he spoils even more than he used to. cliffnation is beautiful and so are its citizens @nautilussilk @snail-mail-33

[stuckinapril]

it literally all starts with forgiving yourself there’s no way around it

[fakeicecubes]

But maybe I can find a way to go around, because I’m different I hope, otherwise I’ll just have to stay in place

[rainbow-femme]

Ok but headcanon that Shane is one of those people who will just write “Love, Shane” at the bottom of a card UNTIL he feels comfortable being vulnerable with that person, at which point he writes the most heartbreakingly sweet and earnest notes

And no one is ever ready for the switch, and even after it happens they can never fully prepare themselves for what they’re going to get. Shane has learned that when he’s going to do that he should take them aside to give them the card rather than in front of people

Once Shane feels comfortable with Hayden as a genuinely good friend in his birthday card that year he writes out a whole thing about how he’s always wanted a best friend like other kids had but never had one and had accepted he never would, and then Hayden came into his life and gave him a level of love and friendship he never thought he would get and he loves everything about Hayden and can’t wait to be by his side as friends and brothers for the rest of their lives. Hayden fully breaks down and loses it, Jackie notices they’ve been gone a while and walks into the kitchen to see Hayden hugging Shane and sobbing into his shoulder. She raises her eyebrows at Shane and Shane just gives her the OK sign and goes back to rubbing Hayden’s back

Ilya learns about the card thing when it’s yunas birthday and he notices her opening Shane’s card like she’s deactivating a bomb. She stares silently as she reads it and Ilya starts freaking out a little when she starts to tear up and then pulls Shane in for a long silent hug. He looks at it later and sees that Shane wrote about how the last year made him realize over again how lucky he is to have someone as strong and supportive as her as a mother and he hopes to one day be half the parent to his own kids as she was to him

When it’s their first time having Ilya’s birthday together he’s legitimately nervous because this is his first Shane Card and he doesn’t know what to expect and part of him is afraid he’s built it up too much in his head and Shane won’t have as nice things to say as he did with other people. And then he opens the envelope and there’s no card but instead multiple pieces of paper because Shane couldn’t fit it all into a limited space. Ilya spends the better part of the next hour walking around the house reading it, taking breaks occasionally to cry or hyperventilate before going back to reading it because holy shit does Shane Hollander love him. Like he knew logically that Shane did but now he’s got pages and pages of Shane walking him through his feelings over the last decade of their life and every moment he remembered and cherished. Shane finally catches up to him and he’s on the floor of the kitchen, face a splotchy red mess, chugging Gatorade because he’s dehydrated from crying

David texts later to ask how his first Shane Card was and he just sends a wall of crying emojis and David is like “LOL yup, the first Father’s Day he did that for me I had to take the week off work or else I would remember it and cry in my office”

[troy-barrett-love]

Today's new stupid idea: colour blind Troy, specifically red-green

He wears black, because it's the least hassle possible. Black shirt, black pants, no opportunity to miss match the colours.

When Harris asked him what his favourite type of apple is, he said red, because everyone knows apples are green or red and fuck if he knows the difference. To him apples are either sweet or sour and he has no idea if the taste depends on the colour.

He'd never had issues differentiating players on ice, because Toronto's colours are blue and white and those don't cause him any problems. Ottawa is black and red though, which makes it a bit more tricky, but he can still just focus on the black and it's fine.

He never really gives the whole thing much though and is half convinced everyone just goes through life like this.

It finally comes out when Wyatt's starts explaining something about superheroes and it becomes clear Troy believes two characters are dressed in the same colour, when they clearly aren't. The Centaurs proceede to waste half the practice asking Troy what colour he thinks different objects are.

The biggest downside of this would be the fact that Troy wouldn't know Harris' eyes are green.

[weirdosandcoins]

Legit question for heated rivalry folks: when it comes to shane's diet, why do folks write his meals like he can't use any spices? Like being cautious about his salt intake and going lighter on it, i can get but folks out here writing like my poor boy can't even have a teaspoon of spice in his food and has to have all his meals bland

i get it if it's post-outing when he starts to really spiral, but otherwise, ya got me stumped

[fakeicecubes]

The way I see Shane diet is a mix of two things 1) is his need for control and 2) is his need to be perfect

Thing one comes into play with the spices in the sense that you could make a recipe twice but how you use the spices can make it taste different those two times. Shane can’t control the outcome perfectly so he doesn’t bother

Thing two i think is more a ‘They don’t help me in any way so why would I use them’ type of thing. Spices won’t help him reach his peak form so he doesn’t see a reason to use them. The only time would be if the nutritionalist recommended he used some for health benefits (like op mentioned in the tags)

(I also think another part of this is he is worried if he enjoys the food he will start to want to eat more of it and that is completely unacceptable)

[i-fear-gritty]

i think if hollanov decide to have more than one kid at least one of them will be a goalie. and you know that kid is going first in whichever draft they end up in because they practiced on shane fucking hollander and ilya fucking rozanov (because if your dads were casually the two best centres in the nhl and two of the most successful hockey players on the planet, then you defend that net like your life depends on it)

everyone else in that years draft thinks this hollander-rozanov child got picked first out of nepotism (because who the fuck is that desperate to pick a goalie first overall in the draft?) until one day that team’s starting goalie is injured and all of a sudden your scoring chances have gone to hell because you’re trying to get the puck past cerberus, the three headed dog that guards the gates of hell

[hollzyer]

ilya as yuna’s assistant: ficlet !

that discovers she has a beautiful son and is like😍😍

—

The move from Boston to Ottawa had been almost as stressful as his first immigration process. It was less urgent and emotionally-driven, just a need to get away from the same life, everyday.

Two months before Ilya’s move, he started selling small things that he didn’t plan on bringing with him for extra cash when he eventually no longer had a job. He applied and applied to just about any position that guaranteed a livable income—preferably above forty-grand year.

Ilya, with the help of Svetlana, found a one-bedroom, one bathroom apartment with in-unit laundry that’s in a safe neighbourhood. The reviews from past tenants are mostly positive, save for the few complaints of minor problems. He doesn’t have much room to be picky.

The first month went by quickly with no replies on his applications. Panic settles in soon after that. How can he move countries without a solid plan? He’s already been approved for a work visa in Canada, can he just cancel that? But he’s already told his manager here in Boston that he is for sure leaving…

For a week, he doesn’t settle. Ilya checks his inbox religiously on every break, between meals, after he showers, whenever he can.

Just over two weeks before his one-way ticket to Ottawa, an email from Hollander Enterprises lights up Ilya’s phone screen.

Mr. Rozanov,

After receiving your resume and letter, CEO Yuna Hollander would like to take a step forward with the hiring process.

Hollander Enterprises understands that you are not currently living and working in Canada. Mrs. Hollander is willing to conduct an over-the-phone interview to see if you’re the right fit for this position.

Please email her temporary assistant to confirm a date and time for the interview to take place.

…

Ilya could hardly believe his luck. The application had been a last-ditch effort when he realized that none of the other jobs that he went out of his way to look for were interested. Being a personal assistant surely is not the job he’d hoped for, but money is money.

A day later, Ilya is nervously pacing his bare living room. The couches and TV had been sold, leaving him with carpeted emptiness to fill.

He awaits for the clock to hit three in the afternoon. Then, Yuna would be free from her busy schedule for twenty minutes, and thankfully not a lunch break.

His phone buzzes urgently in his hand at three on the dot. Ilya swallows roughly, pressing the green accept button with a shaky thumb.

“Hello?” he utters, squeezing his eyes shut and cursing his accent.

“This is Ilya Rozanov?” a male voice asks robotically.

Of course Yuna Hollander herself wouldn’t be the one to call him. “Yes. Um— This is him.”

“Perfect. I’ll transfer you to Mrs. Hollander now, you’ll be on hold for a moment.”

“Alri—” Ilya doesn’t finish his reply before irritating music plays quietly from his phone. He sighs and leans against his kitchen counter.

The line clicks. “Hello, this is Yuna Hollander. And you are Ilya Rozanov?”

Ilya straightens up so fast that his knees ache. “Hi! Yes, yes this is Ilya.” He clenches his jaw and knocks his head back on a cabinet. Stupid, she already knows who you are.

Mrs. Hollander chuckles. “I’m sorry that we don’t have as much time as I’d have liked—my schedule has been so hectic lately!”

“Oh, that is completely fine—”

“So, I’ll keep the questions simple and not as loaded as I usually prepare.”

The interview is normal after that. Not nearly as formal as Ilya had anticipated it being. He discovers that Yuna Hollander herself is an immigrant that struggles in her day-to-day despite being a powerful woman. He finds this out, of course, after apologizing profusely for not understanding every single word that left her mouth, or not being able to answer each question as eloquently as he could in Russian.

He confesses that they were the only company to reach out to him with a promising offer. She tells him that they try to look for people that are in need of a place to start as well as qualified.

Twenty-two minutes fly by. Mrs. Hollander wraps up the call after that. “It was lovely speaking with you, Ilya. I’m positive that you’ll succeed through the pool of applicants and be hired. The process for this position goes quickly, though, so another email should be sent out within the next two days.”

“Thank you for the opportunity, Mrs. Hollander.”

She laughs. “You’re very welcome, Ilya! Have a nice day.”

“You as well.”

Fast forward four weeks, and Ilya is slowly but surely furnishing his new apartment in Ottawa. He’s already went in for an in-person meeting with Mrs. Hollander and set a start date for his second week in the new city.

Transferring banks and getting his account balance converted into Canadian had been a nightmare that he hadn’t even thought about dealing with, but it’s all well and handled now.

His neighbours are nice and respectful. They honour the designated quiet hours and keep the building clean. Ilya smokes out on his balcony and away from the residents that live on either side of him when they’re taking advantage of their space.

The dress code as CEO Yuna Hollander’s personal assistant is formal. Although she had informed Ilya that slacks and a button-down will do for everyday wear, occasionally a tie if an event requires one.

His first day consists of a tour of the facility and a rundown from Mrs. Hollander’s temporary assistant, Jessica, of what his responsibilities will look like.

In short, he handles the CEO’s schedule, calls, organizing meetings, seeing clients before her, and the occasional off-site errand if she’s too busy to run it herself. His day, nine times out of ten, is eight hours sat at a desk just outside of Mrs. Hollander’s office, with paid overtime that he sees a lot.

After a month, Ilya grows comfortable in his new job, actually enjoys himself here, in Ottawa.

On days where, for someone who owns and runs a company, it’s slow, Ilya prefers to sit on the couch in Yuna’s (she insisted that Ilya calls her that) office and work from his laptop. The door is kept open so he’s able to hear the phone and see if anyone approaches his desk.

Yuna Hollander is a wonderful person to talk to. She’s passionate of her work, the charity that H.E. is associated with, doesn’t judge when Ilya struggles with his English, instead helps him find the words, and speaks of her husband and son as they’re her pride and joy.

It’s refreshing to see someone in such high power who cares.

One day, as Ilya is packing up to go home for the night, his phone vibrates in his pocket with a call. He pauses his task and fishes it out of his pocket.

It’s Yuna. Ilya’s eyebrows pinch together. She never calls my personal phone unless it’s urgent.

“Yuna? What is wrong?”

“Ilya! Sorry that I called your phone and not your desk, I wasn’t sure if you’d gone home already,” she says apologetically.

“I was just about to leave in the next ten minutes. What do you need me to do?” He wracks his brain for anything that he could’ve missed but he comes up with nothing.

“I’m caught up in a meeting in Montreal and I’ll be needing to stay overnight—” Yuna starts.

Ilya sits down in his chair and goes to turn his monitor back on. “You need me to book for one night at your usual hotel?”

“Oh, no, Ilya I can do that myself don’t worry!” She laughs. “No, I forgot my laptop in my office this morning before I left. I don’t want it sitting there overnight, so I’ll need you to bring it to my house for me, if that’s not an issue?”

A beat passes and Ilya blinks slowly. “To your home?”

“Yes. I’ve already called my son and he’ll be home to take it from you at the door.”

He’s been here for all of five months now and has managed to save up enough money for a decent car that doesn’t quit on him every other week. He’s been here for five months, and this is the first time Yuna has asked him to go to her house. It feels too close to mixing her work life and home life.

Ilya bites his lip. “Okay. I can do that.”

“Thank you so much, Ilya! I’ll text you my address and you can head over there as soon as possible, if you don’t mind. And don’t worry about gas; send me a receipt and I’ll reimburse you.”

Ilya truly has the nicest boss ever.

Fifty minutes later and it’s nearing seven at night. The sun is still high in the sky and beaming down on Ilya’s work clothes almost brutally.

He sits in his car, Yuna’s laptop safely in its bag on the passenger seat. His boss’s house is not the gated mansion or skyscraper penthouse that he’d imagined. It’s a little ways out of the city, only ten minutes after the limits.

The place is still gigantic and essentially a house-version of Yuna’s office. The ruggedness of natural elements paired with modern windows and angles, surrounded by trees and nature makes Ilya feel at ease and not out of place.

He sighs, grabs the laptop bag, and exits his car. Between closing the door behind him and reaching the top of the steps to the front door, Ilya had started sweating. He hastily rolls his sleeves up while simultaneously trying to knock on the door.

A few seconds pass with no answer. Ilya goes to knock again when the door opens, revealing Yuna’s son.

Now, she does have a picture of him on her desk, which Ilya is now realizing is not at all recent. He had been expecting a boy in elementary school, absolutely not someone his own age. Not the man that is staring at him expectantly with a stunning smile. Not the athletic shirt that’s straining around his biceps and tight at his chest. What the fuck?

“Hi! You’re my mom’s assistant, right?” Yuna will be hearing some choice words from Ilya, when he figures out how to disguise them.

Ilya nods. “Da. Ilya.” His eyes trace the way the man’s hair falls over his forehead, trying to be subtle as his gaze goes down—fuck are those freckles?

The man’s happiness is somehow radiant and Ilya feels his own cheeks lifting into a grin. He stretches his hand out for Ilya to shake.

“I’m Shane. Mom always tells us about how much she likes having you around,” Shane says and lets go of his hand. Ilya feels prideful that he’s helpful to this beautiful man’s mother. “Says that you make her days way easier.”

“Ah. It’s what I was hired to do, so I hope so,” Ilya says bashfully, a tone that he will revisit later.

Shane leans against the doorframe and crosses his arms distractedly. God, Ilya wants to take a bite of them. “You know, Dad and I really had to push for her to hire someone to help her out. Just last year, she was doing a lot of the things you do on her own while also keeping H.E. running. Relied on the general secretaries to remind her of stuff.”

Ilya nods again, shifting his feet. “Wow. I already do so much. Cannot imagine doing all of it.” It comes out a little stilted in a way he hopes he can blame on the language barrier. He would also like to think that the heat climbing up his neck is due to the sun and decidedly not from the attention that his boss’s son is gracing him with.

“Right?! Anyways, you probably just worked a super long, boring shift, so I won’t keep you!” Shane is standing fully again, still wearing that same, perfect smile.

Ilya shrugs at him. “It’s okay.” He hands over the laptop bag. “You are very pretty but probably off-limits.” In all honesty, that had meant to be an inside-thought and absolutely not something for Shane’s ears.

Not like he can take it back now without seeming like a loser or a coward. Both of which he does not want to look like in front of Shane Hollander, Yuna Hollander’s son.

Meanwhile, Shane has apparently short-circuited. “Uh—” Ilya has already painted on a confident grin that he hopes isn’t cocky or smug and turned on his heal to walk down the front steps.

“I will see you around, Shane!” Ilya calls over his shoulder.

“Yeah… Sure…” Shane mumbles to himself, then closes the door after a few moments.

Ilya practically tears his car door off and slams it shut behind him. Why the fuck did I say that? He spends his car ride home with the radio drowning out his spiralling about certainly being fired the next day when Yuna arrives in Ottawa.

In his apartment, he reluctantly checks his phone. A text and a call.

Yuna Hollander (1) Missed Call

Please call me. I promise you’re not in trouble.

“Fuck,” Ilya mutters.

The phone rings twice before Yuna picks up.

“I am sorry—” Ilya rushes out before his boss can tear him a new one.

Yuna scoffs, amused. “Ilya, I said that you’re not in any trouble. I just want to know what this is about you calling my son pretty, hm?” Ilya cheeks go aflame almost instantly at being teased about a supposed crush. “Him being off-limits?”

Ilya sighs. “I did not mean to say this out loud… He was talking and talking—” he grows frustrated with how hard it is so speak right now. “And— and then Shane says goodbye and I did not think!”

Yuna laughs, not unkindly. “My poor son was so embarrassed when he called me. I had to pry his side of the story out of him when he just clammed up.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, oh. Maybe I’ll invite you to the events that you’re not required at… You two can mingle a bit.” Yuna is thinking out loud in the way that Ilya is used to her doing. A tiny bit different as she is now apparently setting her personal assistant up with her son. “Lord knows my Shane needs normal interactions with people his own age.”

“Yuna, that’s not—”

She cuts him off. “That’s not up to you to decide, I’m afraid!” Ilya can hear her pleased smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow by noon, Ilya.”

He bites his lip and sighs again. “…See you tomorrow, Yuna,” he responds eventually.

The line goes dead and Ilya stares at his phone until it turns off. Well, at least he’s not fired.