Shane doesnât consider himself someone who cries easily. He gets worked up about things, sure, heâll get frustrated or angry or sometimes his eyes will mist over with a lump gathering in his throat. But he doesnât really cry. Itâs a practiced habit, he doesnât want things to get to him, he tries not to allow things to overwhelm him to the point of breaking. Isn't it much easier and more productive to jump into figuring out a plan? Or taking a deep breath and moving on? Or venting to someone who will listen and not judge him for becoming upset? These feel like much more attainable tasks, something that makes so much more sense to him.Â
Even though he knows not every time can be like that.Â
Hence the downside, it also means whateverâs wrong has the opportunity to build to the point where he canât do anything else other than let tears fall down his cheeks.Â
â
Honestly, Shaneâs felt like heâs been in a sour mood since he woke up. Thereâs something going on with the Metros that justâŠhasnât been right ever since he came out. The comradery and teamsmanship that he once had in the palm of his hands, something that was so easy to click into and work towards not one but two Cups seems like a distant memory. There are whispers and looks and wordless foreboding that somehow feels like betrayalâlike Shane has done something awful by just being himself.Â
He knows not everyone feels like that, that heâs got some great people as team members and friendships. But itâs not the same. He doesnât regret this step forward in his life but he also, at the same time, wishes not everything was so hard.Â
On top of everything else, he misses Ilya. Their schedules have flipflopped in a way that itâs been three weeks since heâs last seen himâFacetime calls and text messages just arenât enough. So the moment Shane gets back to Ottawa, coming off of a losing game, he makes a b-line to Ilyaâs place.Â
His boyfriend barely opens the door before Shane is dropping his bags in the entryway and wrapping his arms around him. The force of the hug nearly knocks Ilya back a step, a small amused sound rumbling in Ilyaâs chest.Â
âI heard that absence makes the dick grow harder.âÂ
God. Shane rolls his eyes but heâs smiling against this idiotâs shoulder, âThatâs really not the saying.â He replies, voice muffled. He wonders how long Ilya has been sitting on that comment, waiting for the perfect time to say it.Â
Ilya squeezes him around his middle, a kiss pressed to his neck, âI think it might be.âÂ
And while as entertaining as that is, when Shane pulls back, Ilyaâs demeanor shifts as he gets a good look at his face. His hand moves to cup his cheek, brushing his thumb over his freckles and Shane has to bite the side of his tongue so he doesnât do something stupid like cry in the entryway,Â
âYou are okay?âÂ
He lets out a slow breath that shakes a little at the end. He wants to tell him that itâs been a shitty dayâa shitty three weeks really. That he missed him, that heâs afraid he doesnât want to play for the Metros anymore, that his entire life and everything heâs worked for is gently shifting in a direction thatâŠthat he wants to be in butâŠthat itâs terrifying. That sometimes Ilya feels like the only grounding source that there is.Â
âIâm just tired,â He admits, sniffling, before running his fingers over his eyebrow.Â
Ilya watches carefully, nodding, but Shane can tell that he doesnât completely believe him. He lets it go though, which Shane is grateful for, leaning down to pick up his bag to take towards the laundry room.Â
âGo shower. Iâll make dinner.âÂ
And itâs that quiet, gentle intimacy that makes Shane so grateful to be home.Â
â
Shane knows that Ilya can tell something is off. While Shane wouldnât consider himself someone whoâs chatty, he definitely talks more than this. He showers, pulls on a pair of sweatpants and one of Ilyaâs hoodies and lingers around him as he does mundane tasks to get dinner ready. Thereâs an effortless balance of Shane remaining close but Ilya not prying. Heâll gently thread his fingers through Shaneâs hair or brush his hand over his shoulder, or press a kiss to his cheek as he moves around the kitchen. But he doesnât ask Shane whatâs wrong.Â
Shane wonders if Ilya justâŠknows. Heâs sure that he watched his game, that heâs absorbed his teamâs loss, that heâs frustrated that the team just isnât gelling anymore and it feels like itâs his fault. That heâs holding something on his shoulders that he has no business bearing.
When Ilya encourages Shane to go into the living room and sit, he does and eventually his husband joins him with two bowls of pasta.Â
âYour mom gave me sauce recipe.â Ilya smiles warmly, like heâs proud heâs put something together that feels like family. Like home.Â
And it just lodges that hurt in the back of Shaneâs throat again. His fingers are shaking as he runs them over the lower half of his face, âDid you watch the game with them?âÂ
Ilya hums, âYes. Yuna and I took turns screaming at refsâDavid took videos he can show you.â He smirks in soft amusement, sitting down next to Shane on the couch, âBefore I forgetâŠcan I ask best player in league for an autograph?âÂ
Itâs said so simplyâ in such an absolute, that regardless that Ilya is teasing him, he means itâthat Shaneâs chest cracks wide open. His hand moves to cover his entire face, the bridge of his nose stinging as his eyes sheen over. Shane attempts to take a deep breath but his chest ends up shuddering instead, tears on the brinks of his eyelashes spilling over.Â
âShane,â Ilya whispers, soft concern and affection and far too much for Shane to handle.Â
His hand moves to rest on the back of his neck and Shane finds himself shaking his head, like he can somehow hide this reaction even though itâs too late for that.Â
âIâm s-sorry,â Shane breathes out, the urge to move, to hide but Ilya wonât let him.Â
That same hand on the back of his neck moves to his shoulder as his boyfriend shuffles closer, his lips pressed to Shaneâs cheek, âShh, no. Is okay.â His lips move to his temple, nose pressing into his hair, âCome here.â His other hand gently grips Shaneâs chin, forcing him to look towards him. His lower lip wobbles when his brown eyes meet blue, âCome here, Shane.âÂ
Shane allows Ilya to turn his body, to pull him into his chest. Ilya shifts until his back is tucked into the corner of the couch, tugging Shane until heâs mapped over him. Shane hides his face in Ilyaâs shoulder, his fingers digging into his t-shirt, holding onto him as pathetic sobs tumble out of his chest. Everything heâs been holding back lately, all the frustration heâs been stewing in just pours out of him. Ilya wraps his arms around him, keeping him close, squeezing him every so often as his fingers massage the back of his neck and thread through his hair. Heâs quiet, offering the occasional shh and comforting Russian.Â
It takes a few minutes for him to calm down, until heâs a soft mess of sniffles and hiccups. He wipes his cheek, Ilyaâs hand soothing through his hair and down his spine, resting low on his back. Shane licks his lips, glancing at the bowls of pasta on the table; fuck.Â
âI didnât mean to ruin dinner.âÂ
Ilya shakes his head, âI know how to work microwave,â He presses a kiss to his forehead, letting his lips linger there, âBesides, seems like that was building up for a while.âÂ
Thereâs no judgement in Ilyaâs voice even though Shane feels a flush kiss the back of his neck in silent embarrassment. Even though his boyfriend isnât trying to make a statement connected to guilt, he has been letting a lot build up lately. Unloading like this just tells Shane he should have tried to talk about things as they happenedâthe Metros, the frustration with the team not clicking, the missing Ilya; all of it.Â
âJust a lot going on,â He sniffs, resting against Ilyaâs chest. His boyfriend opens his legs a little until Shaneâs body slips between his knees. Shane turns his head so that his chin is resting on his sternum, their noses brushing, âI should have told you.âÂ
Ilya paints his thumb across Shaneâs cheekbone, dragging it down to run along his lower lip, âYouâre telling me now, thatâs what matters.âÂ
Shane lets out a slow breath, noddingâhe supposes thatâs true.Â
And he does. Shane tells him everything. Itâs slow and lazy and broken up with Ilya heating up their dinner. Itâs not always the most coherent way to go about sharing all the things Shane wants to say, but Ilya follows nonetheless. He offers support in gentle words or intimate touches. And itâs enough. Itâs more than enough.Â
When dinner is done, Ilya tugs Shane back onto his chest, tucking him along his shoulder. He presses a slow series of kisses to his forehead, âI missed you too.â He eventually says.Â
Shane closes his eyes, a small smile pulling the corners of his mouth, âYeah?â He asks, Ilyaâs hand sliding down his back again. His fingers play with the waistband of his sweatpants, âMe or my dick?âÂ
Ilya smiles against Shaneâs mouth, nipping at his lower lip, âGuess we will see.â And playfully grabs his ass.Â
Shane doesnât consider himself someone who cries easily. He gets worked up about things, sure, heâll get frustrated or angry or sometimes his eyes will mist over with a lump gathering in his throat. But he doesnât really cry. Itâs a practiced habit, he doesnât want things to get to him, he tries not to allow things to overwhelm him to the point of breaking. Isn't it much easier and more productive to jump into figuring out a plan? Or taking a deep breath and moving on? Or venting to someone who will listen and not judge him for becoming upset? These feel like much more attainable tasks, something that makes so much more sense to him.Â
Even though he knows not every time can be like that.Â
Hence the downside, it also means whateverâs wrong has the opportunity to build to the point where he canât do anything else other than let tears fall down his cheeks.Â
â
Honestly, Shaneâs felt like heâs been in a sour mood since he woke up. Thereâs something going on with the Metros that justâŠhasnât been right ever since he came out. The comradery and teamsmanship that he once had in the palm of his hands, something that was so easy to click into and work towards not one but two Cups seems like a distant memory. There are whispers and looks and wordless foreboding that somehow feels like betrayalâlike Shane has done something awful by just being himself.Â
He knows not everyone feels like that, that heâs got some great people as team members and friendships. But itâs not the same. He doesnât regret this step forward in his life but he also, at the same time, wishes not everything was so hard.Â
On top of everything else, he misses Ilya. Their schedules have flipflopped in a way that itâs been three weeks since heâs last seen himâFacetime calls and text messages just arenât enough. So the moment Shane gets back to Ottawa, coming off of a losing game, he makes a b-line to Ilyaâs place.Â
His boyfriend barely opens the door before Shane is dropping his bags in the entryway and wrapping his arms around him. The force of the hug nearly knocks Ilya back a step, a small amused sound rumbling in Ilyaâs chest.Â
âI heard that absence makes the dick grow harder.âÂ
God. Shane rolls his eyes but heâs smiling against this idiotâs shoulder, âThatâs really not the saying.â He replies, voice muffled. He wonders how long Ilya has been sitting on that comment, waiting for the perfect time to say it.Â
Ilya squeezes him around his middle, a kiss pressed to his neck, âI think it might be.âÂ
And while as entertaining as that is, when Shane pulls back, Ilyaâs demeanor shifts as he gets a good look at his face. His hand moves to cup his cheek, brushing his thumb over his freckles and Shane has to bite the side of his tongue so he doesnât do something stupid like cry in the entryway,Â
âYou are okay?âÂ
He lets out a slow breath that shakes a little at the end. He wants to tell him that itâs been a shitty dayâa shitty three weeks really. That he missed him, that heâs afraid he doesnât want to play for the Metros anymore, that his entire life and everything heâs worked for is gently shifting in a direction thatâŠthat he wants to be in butâŠthat itâs terrifying. That sometimes Ilya feels like the only grounding source that there is.Â
âIâm just tired,â He admits, sniffling, before running his fingers over his eyebrow.Â
Ilya watches carefully, nodding, but Shane can tell that he doesnât completely believe him. He lets it go though, which Shane is grateful for, leaning down to pick up his bag to take towards the laundry room.Â
âGo shower. Iâll make dinner.âÂ
And itâs that quiet, gentle intimacy that makes Shane so grateful to be home.Â
â
Shane knows that Ilya can tell something is off. While Shane wouldnât consider himself someone whoâs chatty, he definitely talks more than this. He showers, pulls on a pair of sweatpants and one of Ilyaâs hoodies and lingers around him as he does mundane tasks to get dinner ready. Thereâs an effortless balance of Shane remaining close but Ilya not prying. Heâll gently thread his fingers through Shaneâs hair or brush his hand over his shoulder, or press a kiss to his cheek as he moves around the kitchen. But he doesnât ask Shane whatâs wrong.Â
Shane wonders if Ilya justâŠknows. Heâs sure that he watched his game, that heâs absorbed his teamâs loss, that heâs frustrated that the team just isnât gelling anymore and it feels like itâs his fault. That heâs holding something on his shoulders that he has no business bearing.
When Ilya encourages Shane to go into the living room and sit, he does and eventually his husband joins him with two bowls of pasta.Â
âYour mom gave me sauce recipe.â Ilya smiles warmly, like heâs proud heâs put something together that feels like family. Like home.Â
And it just lodges that hurt in the back of Shaneâs throat again. His fingers are shaking as he runs them over the lower half of his face, âDid you watch the game with them?âÂ
Ilya hums, âYes. Yuna and I took turns screaming at refsâDavid took videos he can show you.â He smirks in soft amusement, sitting down next to Shane on the couch, âBefore I forgetâŠcan I ask best player in league for an autograph?âÂ
Itâs said so simplyâ in such an absolute, that regardless that Ilya is teasing him, he means itâthat Shaneâs chest cracks wide open. His hand moves to cover his entire face, the bridge of his nose stinging as his eyes sheen over. Shane attempts to take a deep breath but his chest ends up shuddering instead, tears on the brinks of his eyelashes spilling over.Â
âShane,â Ilya whispers, soft concern and affection and far too much for Shane to handle.Â
His hand moves to rest on the back of his neck and Shane finds himself shaking his head, like he can somehow hide this reaction even though itâs too late for that.Â
âIâm s-sorry,â Shane breathes out, the urge to move, to hide but Ilya wonât let him.Â
That same hand on the back of his neck moves to his shoulder as his boyfriend shuffles closer, his lips pressed to Shaneâs cheek, âShh, no. Is okay.â His lips move to his temple, nose pressing into his hair, âCome here.â His other hand gently grips Shaneâs chin, forcing him to look towards him. His lower lip wobbles when his brown eyes meet blue, âCome here, Shane.âÂ
Shane allows Ilya to turn his body, to pull him into his chest. Ilya shifts until his back is tucked into the corner of the couch, tugging Shane until heâs mapped over him. Shane hides his face in Ilyaâs shoulder, his fingers digging into his t-shirt, holding onto him as pathetic sobs tumble out of his chest. Everything heâs been holding back lately, all the frustration heâs been stewing in just pours out of him. Ilya wraps his arms around him, keeping him close, squeezing him every so often as his fingers massage the back of his neck and thread through his hair. Heâs quiet, offering the occasional shh and comforting Russian.Â
It takes a few minutes for him to calm down, until heâs a soft mess of sniffles and hiccups. He wipes his cheek, Ilyaâs hand soothing through his hair and down his spine, resting low on his back. Shane licks his lips, glancing at the bowls of pasta on the table; fuck.Â
âI didnât mean to ruin dinner.âÂ
Ilya shakes his head, âI know how to work microwave,â He presses a kiss to his forehead, letting his lips linger there, âBesides, seems like that was building up for a while.âÂ
Thereâs no judgement in Ilyaâs voice even though Shane feels a flush kiss the back of his neck in silent embarrassment. Even though his boyfriend isnât trying to make a statement connected to guilt, he has been letting a lot build up lately. Unloading like this just tells Shane he should have tried to talk about things as they happenedâthe Metros, the frustration with the team not clicking, the missing Ilya; all of it.Â
âJust a lot going on,â He sniffs, resting against Ilyaâs chest. His boyfriend opens his legs a little until Shaneâs body slips between his knees. Shane turns his head so that his chin is resting on his sternum, their noses brushing, âI should have told you.âÂ
Ilya paints his thumb across Shaneâs cheekbone, dragging it down to run along his lower lip, âYouâre telling me now, thatâs what matters.âÂ
Shane lets out a slow breath, noddingâhe supposes thatâs true.Â
And he does. Shane tells him everything. Itâs slow and lazy and broken up with Ilya heating up their dinner. Itâs not always the most coherent way to go about sharing all the things Shane wants to say, but Ilya follows nonetheless. He offers support in gentle words or intimate touches. And itâs enough. Itâs more than enough.Â
When dinner is done, Ilya tugs Shane back onto his chest, tucking him along his shoulder. He presses a slow series of kisses to his forehead, âI missed you too.â He eventually says.Â
Shane closes his eyes, a small smile pulling the corners of his mouth, âYeah?â He asks, Ilyaâs hand sliding down his back again. His fingers play with the waistband of his sweatpants, âMe or my dick?âÂ
Ilya smiles against Shaneâs mouth, nipping at his lower lip, âGuess we will see.â And playfully grabs his ass.Â