Hockey players are famously superstitious, Shane and Ilya know this. So, this really should not come a surprise:
When they're about to leave the locker room for warm ups, Bood steps into the door with his arm stretched out.
"Woah, woah, woah, where do you two think you're going?"
They share a confused look.
"Uh, to warm up?" Shane asks. Bood instantly starts to shake his head as Troy joins him at the door.
Shane leans back a little in disgust surprise, beside him Ilya lifts his eyebrows in disbelief.
"What, both of you?" with a chuckle, to which Shane adds "From whom?" before stepping closer to Ilya. Who was famous for goal celebration kisses to sweaty cheeks of his teammates but that was pretty much all Shane was okay sharing.
"Ew, no, no, no." Troy waves them off and Bood shakes his head laughing.
"Each other. Last time you did before warm ups and we won 6 to 2 against the Admirals."
And, oh. Because. Shane isn't against PDA now that they're both out when they are around their team after games or out for dinner with someone or walking Anya around their neighboor hood hand in hand.
But. He had a pretty clear rule that practices, games and everything at the rink was off limits. That was work. That was different.
The first few away games he didn't even want to sit beside Ilya on the bus or plane. Let alone be couple-y around the others. He told Ilya he did not want even the slightest chance of someone feeling uncomfortable because of him. Them.
Last week had been different, though. Ilya had been feeling down for a little while. Not much, not bad. Just- off. And when they were putting on their skates for warm ups he had cracked a stupid joke. And Shane had looked over and something in his chest had loosened because- there was that mischievous sparkle in his husbands eyes again. Leaning over and kissing Ilya hadn't really been a concious choice. It hadn't been anything wild either. A closed mouthed, lingering press of their lips.
A steady few seconds to convey 'Hey, I missed you.'
Ilya had smiled fondly at him after.
Apparently Bood or Troy or someone saw this. And when they won, they came to the logical conclusion that that was because of their pre warm up kiss.
Now Ilya rolls his eyes because- as dumb as it is, in hockey world this makes stupid sense. But Shane won't like it. So, he has to find a way to- suddenly there are two hands cupping his face before he is being dragged to meet Shane's lips for a quick, smacking kiss.
"Let's fucking kill these guys out there." Is all Shane says after, bonking his helmet with Barrett and Bood before vanishing through the door.
Ilya stares after him, stunned and slack jawed.