post tuna melt i dont think shane ever feels insecure about whether or not ilya feels the same way. i am in awe at the way he sees through ilya's bs throughout their entire conversation in tampa. his frustrations in the convo isn't about ilya not feeling the same way, but about ilya dancing around his feelings.
ilya: "you freaked out over nothing." shane knows that's not true, he knows ilya's just hurt and being an asshole to cover it up.
ilya: "we get together, we fuck. it's simple" this doesn't hurt shane's feelings, he knows this is ilya trying to prevent him from freaking out and running again
ilya: "we cant be something" doesn't matter, because shane is on the same page as him, he also thinks they can't be anything. shane's not asking him for anything (not even to be exclusive, which i personally think ilya was about to ask shane to be during tuna melt day), just an acknowledgement of their feelings.
shane: "i dont think i can keep pretending i dont like you anymore" i think this is the crux, which is shane's earnestness and desire to be truthful, and that cuts through all of ilya's bluster. at this point, he knows they can't be together, but what he wants is the ability to be more genuine and in touch with his feelings when the two of them are alone together.
then shane initiates another very genuine, very kind conversation about ilya's family and hugs him through his breakdown. this is what he wants, he wants to get to know more about ilya, to have more emotional connection during the limited amount of time they have together. and ilya is completely weak in the face of shane's openness and emotional vulnerability. he cries with shane in his lap, and afterwards we see them calling each other ilya and shane. they've agreed to take their relationship to a deeper more emotional level.
shane being a rock is such a core hollanov thing! that's why ilya can't help going back to him again and again, he's the boring canadian with a weak backhand and the most gentle soul ilya's allowed himself to have.
edit: guys i know shane doesn't have a weak backhand.....
