co-captaining with: ◟ @hollandeir ◝ ⋆˖ ‧ ❤︎ ②④
𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 | 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐝 | 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 | 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 | 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐬
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JVL

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AnasAbdin
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@rozqnov
co-captaining with: ◟ @hollandeir ◝ ⋆˖ ‧ ❤︎ ②④
𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 | 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐝 | 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 | 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 | 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐬
ilya's reaction is worth the sharp pain in shane's ribs, despite knowing deep down that this obvious re-injury from playing while hurt is one of dumbest things he's ever done. he could've sat this game out, pretended to be sick, anything. but the thought of letting both the team and his parents down was somehow stronger than his need to rest and take care of himself, as awful as it sounds. shane is no stranger to pretending that everything is fine in order to keep the peace and ensure that no one fusses over him too much. grateful, he accepts the can of ginger ale and ibuprofen, feeling more at ease once he takes the pills and sets the can down on the messy nightstand. he will soon feel better, once the painkillers kick in. having a light at the end of the tunnel makes things more bearable.
❛ i wasn't messing around! ❜ shane protests as he removes his shoes and lies back on the bed. ❛ you told me i could pick some music, so i did. it's not my fault the closet was open and this thing was right in my face. ❜ he slowly lifts the jersey up past his chest as he relaxes further into the unmade bed, wincing out a small "ribs" as he does so. vulnerability tinges the singular syllable, shane's expression a little sheepish. there are parts of him that continue to be embarrassed over what happened, even if he knows his mistreatment couldn't have gone on forever without him snapping one day as he had. everyone reaches their limit at some point.
a quiet hiss leaves shane's lips at the initial touch of makeshift ice pack to bare skin. even so, his eyes never leave ilya's kind face, shane studying each minute change in expression without realizing he's blatantly staring in the first place. he wonders what ilya would be doing right now if he hadn't brought shane home to tend to his bruises, whether he'd be playing some other record and doing homework or playing video games on the couch in just his underwear. the second thought is one that hits shane out of nowhere, face warm and mind a mess. he averts his gaze at last, feeling almost guilty for picturing his friend in a state of undress. clearing his throat, he tries his best to keep his composure. ❛ thanks. for this, and... i don't know. being nice to me, i guess. ❜
‧ ᯓ ☦︎ ▒ . ❘❘❘ ──── ilya’s brows furrow , but only for a moment , as / @hollandeir thanks him .
it makes no sense , to be thanked for this . in fact , ilya feels like he is the one who should be thanking shane . his presence here and the trust required to allow someone this close to both your physical body and also the private moments that shane wasn’t willing to share with everyone was enough to make ilya go gooey in the middle . shane was targeted and hurt just for existing and ilya has an inkling that he wouldn’t want just anyone knowing about it , considering he himself didn’t even want to divulge the incident to ilya . letting ilya know him and know the happenings in his world was a privilege . to care for him in this way was all he could do to quell the growing feelings that threatened to explode each time they were around each other .
❛ good choice . you noticed the album on the bus ? ❜ ilya watches as shane lifts the jersey , his jersey . he murmurs and groans as the ice is moved and adjusted across the bruise and ilya finds himself gulping involuntarily . fuck . fuck . how could this be his dream come true and worst nightmare all at the same time ? no more than a few days before , ilya laid here himself , hand drifting across his body as he pictured shane in similar positions , mewing and squirming around . only this time , he could do nothing to quench his thirst for shane . instead , after feeling a stir in his stomach , ilya sits on the edge of his bed , halfway on shane’s leg and turned towards him . swallowing hard and biting his lip in concentration , ilya continues to move the frozen bag across shane’s muscles . helping shane was not even a second thought . if he could not get back at jason and his teammates , he could do this instead . ──── ❛ of course . ❜
something happens then , instinctively , as if he was made to do it . ilya’s hand reaches to graze along shane’s abdomen , traipsing delicately with the back of his fingernails . his eyes follow his fingers , taking in every inch of shane there is to take in . they make their way across shane’s chest , up around his neck , drinking in the soft skin and allowing himself to be consumed by the feeling . up they go , dancing along shane’s jaw and stopping when they reach his perfect freckles . pointer finger now runs across the bridge of his nose , mapping every single dot in his constellation on his cheeks . ilya is drunk off shane , halfway mad at the idiots that hurt him but more busy being devoured by shane’s existence . ──── ❛ i cannot imagine someone wanting to hurt you . you are so good . i think is you that makes me nicer . ❜
ill be here tomorrow , folks . gonna work on drafts and i am slowly redoing my pinned as well ! remember to take care of yourselves ☆〜(ゝ。∂)
❛ what are you talking about? of course not. it's a fucking trampoline, ilya. didn't you ever jump around on one as a kid? flips are easy on this thing if you time it right. ❜ it occurs to him then that despite how many years they've been together, ilya has not made it a habit to speak of his childhood too much. what snippets shane has gotten tend to lean towards positive anecdotes that involve irina, and no one else. he tries not to push whenever they do speak of the past, though lets ilya know fully that he is here to listen whenever ilya needs an ear.
eyes rolling, shane waits for ilya to attempt his own flip, already analyzing his form and seeing where he will fall short in terms of momentum. still, he watches ... and then stifles a laugh with his hand when ilya falls back onto the trampoline's surface. he can't help himself for long, his husband's laughter music to his ears. uncovering his mouth, shane laughs. ❛ are you sure your ego can handle it? ❜ he teases, waiting for their shared laughter to die down a touch before walking to the center of the trampoline and giving a few test jumps like earlier. once satisfied with the height he reaches on each bounce, shane entrusts his body with the confidence to do the rest. core tightening and legs tucking, he sails through the air for a second before landing on his feet this time, cheeky grin and all.
‧ ᯓ ☦︎ ▒ . ❘❘❘ ──── through half squinted and irritated eyes , ilya watches as / @hollandeir executes the perfect flip .
any experience he had on a trampoline was fresh to him , having only jumped on one a few times at his teammates' houses when their kids had one parked in the backyard . if it did not involve hockey or school , it was likely that as a child ilya would not have interacted with it . not finishing high school and going straight to the NHL was a way to cut your childhood off quick too . so when he saw the ad on his phone for this stupid and huge trampoline , something inside him told him he had to get it . whether it was for him or his future children as he claimed was not of any consequence at this point , he was enjoying it now with his husband . dr . molchalina told him it was a good idea when he asked what she thought at their last session , seeing as it was such a large investment on something many would deem unnecessary . she knew ilya liked to spend frivolously but she also knew that he had sacrificed so much in the past few years that it was okay that he spoiled himself every now and then .
laying there on the trampoline , ilya props himself up on his elbows to watch as his husband makes a full rotation in the air with the ease of an acrobat . his hands come up to clap a few times in genuine impress as he hoots and hollers as shane makes his way back down to earth , sturdy and confident . he gets up from his spot , testing the bounce a few times again as if to attempt a flip again only to launch himself directly at his husband , arms outspread to catch him in a giant bear hug . ──── ❛ you are not allowed to be good at everything , damnit ! gahhhHHH ! ❜ ilya knew that would never stop shane , his husband was perfectly competitive with his athleticism to beat the greats , but maybe he just wanted to get his hands on him , glowing warm from pride that the man he loved was so talented .
a copse of trees finally gives way to the sight of a stranger, shane stopping in his tracks as they make eye contact. this is not who the mage had envisioned when he'd first picked up on the voice speaking to him through the dense foliage, having expected some kind of hideous beast that could tear him limb from limb. annoyance paints over shane's features now, leaves from the greenery that border them bending towards him as if waiting further instruction.
❛ do you always avoid answering? ❜ he does not move a muscle. even so, there is a low rumbling within the earth beneath their feet. shane can sense ancient roots flexing, stretching outwards in their infinite networks. shane crosses his arms, looking at the offered hand as if it is the most offensive gesture anyone could have given him. ❛ no, ❜ he says frigidly, vines slithering across the forest floor to encircle the stranger's ankles in a vice-like grip, ❛ you come here. ❜
‧ ᯓ ☦︎ ▒ . ❘❘❘ ──── the demon doesn’t move as he feels the vines crawl along his feet , gaze held firm on / @hollandeir .
arm falling back to his side in a dramatic display of defeat , ilya does the kind thing and pretends to let the other man feel like he has the upper hand . these were the beast’s woods , after all , those vines knew him by name . if ilya was going to get to the bottom of why his soul sang near this mage , he had to go willingly . you see , you had to be willing to give up whatever semblance of safety you had in order to get anything from nature in return . and nature could offer answers if you asked nicely . an eye for an eye and all that . the hut was not far from where they stood now , the hearth cold from not being used by this form in ages now . he could fix that quickly , if he willed the flames to ignite , they would . ──── ❛ very stubborn . ❜
raising his hands in sudden surrender , his approach clearly not working , ilya bites his lip and shrugs . ──── ❛ i am not going to hurt you , if that is what you think . what are you even doing out here ? you must be far from home , no ? ❜ villages stood on the outskirts of the wood , dotted like wildflowers in a deep valley . it wasn’t unheard of for a human to stumble into the brush and lose their way . but ilya could smell the magic , that ancient scent , pooling around the dark haired creature before him . it was bright and smelled of chlorophyll and green , crawling things . the feeling was thrilling , but edged with enough nervousness to keep his pulse stumbling .
shane's jaw drops at the mention of his stashed candy. touché, he supposes. but it doesn't make him feel any less embarrassed about it. sometimes after a particularly awful day, he thinks about going downstairs into the kitchen to retrieve that snickers bar and eating it all in one sitting. the thought always inevitably brings about a wave of nausea so great that it keeps him in bed with his comfy socks and whatever book he's chosen to read that week. his aversion to a growing list of foods is not what he wishes to discuss during this trip, so he shoves past with an irritated "fuck you, rozanov" and goes to set up the camp stove and fire while ilya deals with the mattress.
❛ what do you want me to do, test it? i thought you said you were hungry, ❜ shane points out as he finally opens one of the hotdog packs. getting to his feet from where he crouches, he hands the pack to ilya and takes his shoes off before entering the tent. okay, so it's nicer than shane could have ever envisioned it. and it really does look comfortable. he lies down on the mattress with care, staring up at the ceiling of the tent as he pictures what it will be like once the sun dips below the horizon line and the sounds of crickets start up. ❛ i used to be fine with a cot and a sleeping bag, now i won't be able to camp without this stupid thing. ❜
‧ ᯓ ☦︎ ▒ . ❘❘❘ ──── / @hollandeir’s familiar jabs fill ilya with a well torn tenderness .
it was obvious to both of them what shane meant by his thinly veiled insults , and ilya never failed to acknowledge it with a twisted grin . in a further attempt to mess with shane , ilya stands in shane’s path , wrapping his hand around shane’s waist as he brushes past ilya towards the tent . following after behind him , head tilted down as he hides his smile , ilya takes the pack of hot dogs he plans on devouring later . he laughs again as shane takes his shoes off , an absolutely unnecessary task but something ilya finds all the more endearing . ilya crouches near the entrance of the tent , taking in the view of his boyfriend attempting to relax and smiles some more . ──── ❛ we are moving up in the world . we deserve mattress full of air ! will be comfortable tonight , you think ? ❜
it takes everything in him not to throw the pack of hot dogs into the woods and slide in next to shane while burying his face in his neck . but he was sweaty , hungry , and excited to get their evening going . turning to check on anya for a moment , ilya sees her stirring in the trunk . if his cheeks were not already flushed , happiness might have unfurled through him so completely that his face might’ve gone red . shane looked so comfortable and cozy he was essentially begging to be pinned down and kissed again . still , doing that again might irritate shane again to the point of not giving in that night when ilya finally pressed his lips against his lover's neck and he wasn’t really willing to risk that , even if it was a kiss . poking the bear , however , was ilya’s number one past time , and something her perfected . reaching inward , ilya smacks shane on the shin twice as if to summon him up from his position . ──── ❛ shane . come on — ну давай же ! you keep distracting me from hot dog time . please . i am so hungry . ❜ ilya throws his head back dramatically , placing his hand on his stomach as if he were going to wither away into nothing .
shane watches elodie go, knowing he should feel at least some remorse for upsetting her. he doesn't, and he quickly decides he won't pretend to even if yuna really would be upset with his behavior. he has an argument ready to go should she ever find out about today, own voice clear as day in shane's head: she was touching my friend without his consent, mom. isn't that a lot worse than being mean for two seconds? david would surely back his son by nodding his head to agree, shane is certain of it ! elodie's parting words don't affect shane in the least, because even if ilya does have a curfew, it hasn't stopped him from sneaking in through shane's window at all hours of the night lately. he considers this statement to be a last ditch effort to rattle shane. for what reason, it's unclear, but shane thinks maybe it has to do with the fact that neither he nor ilya were enthused over her domineering presence. ❛ what are you sorry about? you didn't do anything. ❜
snapping the book in his hands shut and setting it aside on the arm of the couch, shane adjusts the blanket on his lap but does not remove it yet. his body has calmed down after the chaos of the moment, but he knows all it will take is one featherlight touch to get worked up again. ❛ what? why would i go? ❜ confusion flits across his features even as ilya gets up off the floor and joins him on the couch, eyes temporarily focusing on the hand that finds a home on his knee, shane swallowing hard when that same hand lightly teases. everything about ilya is so very distracting, shane already forgetting that they aren't alone up until he hears another door upstairs slam shut. not even that gets them to break apart this time, shane doing his best to look up at ilya instead of turning away, despite how fast his heart is racing. he doesn't want to miss anything.
were you jealous? shane shakes his head, eye contact unwavering. ❛ no. ❜ the response is sincere, earlier actions solely based on the irritation that had presented itself once shane noticed how uncomfortable ilya seemed. ❛ it didn't look like you wanted her to touch you. i was annoyed that she didn't care. that's the only reason i did it. ❜ he'd picked up the advice on how to dismiss someone quickly from julian months ago, never having found a reason to use it. shane will have to thank him later. there is the sound of another car approaching the house to honk, and shane listens as elodie exits whatever room she'd been in to leave the house and lock up. silence befalls the basement again, whatever record ilya had put on prior to shane's arrival having ended during elodie's invasion. shane pushes the blanket out of the way at last, movements cautious as he climbs over onto ilya's lap to kiss him again.
‧ ᯓ ☦︎ ▒ . ❘❘❘ ──── before he can even argue , / @hollandeir is already back in his lap .
seconds earlier he had been worried that his host family’s daughter had scared him off with her territorial behavior , basically claiming ilya with her childish claims on his life like she was his mother . ilya knew the importance of this moment to shane . they had spent hours over the phone and over text discussing this , planning it out , teasing each other with flirty messages . shane’s experiences involving physical intimacy were not pleasant memories for him and ilya wanted to show him just how good it could be . and it was good . it was better than anything ilya himself had experienced and he knew it could only go up from here . so he wanted to mirror that for shane and make sure he felt safe , like nothing was forced and everything was to connect on a level their words couldn’t crack . ──── ❛ i did not want it to scare you . i know that you have not always .. liked doing this . so i wanted you to feel safe . ❜
ilya manhandles shane for a moment , grabbing both of his thighs to straddle his hips again like they had previously on his bed . picking up right where they left off as soon as the cost was clear was the only option . it was obvious that they were both itching to get their hands on one another , evident in the way ilya cannot stop blinking as he positions shane to sit in his lap . the silence that fell over them makes ilya feel drunk . the air is heavy again , like his limbs weigh a thousand pounds but still feel like feathers as his hands ghost over shane’s thighs . ──── ❛ i did not want her to touch me . she is just like that . treats me like i am her little brother but .. also i catch her staring sometimes . i do not want her . i just want you . and for you to touch me . ❜
wiggling a bit , ilya moves his hands from shane’s legs and begins to unbutton his flannel shirt . agonizingly slow , his head falls back against the back of the couch as he makes a show of his undress , never breaking eye contact with shane . it felt good to hold his gaze , like he was letting him know he could do whatever he wanted in that moment . the smirk on ilya's face is vicious , he know's he's being a terrible tease and probably torturing shane . and still , it settled into him like devotion , a gentle heat blooming low in his gut , too intimate to question . as the last button leaves it’s closure , the oversized fabric slides across his abdomen and exposes his chest completely . tufts of dark hair accentuate his stomach and his mother’s crucifix lays across his heart . it’s an invitation , an apology . or maybe it is his attempt to one up shane at his sudden disrobing earlier . the weight of shane is already something he draws comfort from . he can smell the other boy , feel warmth spread across his legs and something catch in his throat . whatever walls had gone back up during elodie’s intrusion are slowly crumbling , trembling breaths and hands finding shane’s neck break them back down again . eyebrows furrow and ilya’s expression pleads to shane to reach out and touch before his head dives in to connect with shane’s lips once more .
ilya's room is more or less what shane had expected: full of music, a little messy, rife with signs of having multiple vices. his nose wrinkles at the presence of the ashtray and empty soda cans, but the expression quickly turns to wonder and curiosity as he looks up at all the posters on the walls. shane's room is neater, things having their own place. he often finds he can't sleep if even one item is left out or haphazardly tossed into a drawer. ilya clearly doesn't have this issue, but apart from the obvious smoking and caffeine habits, shane is more intrigued than disgusted. he's sat on the bed for about two seconds. at least, until ilya gives him the go-ahead to wander around.
❛ uh, do you have ginger ale by any chance? if not, water's fine. ❜ the first thing he does is crouch down in front of the television where the shelves of physical media sit, head tilting to read each jewel case spine in the cd section. he ignores the pain in his ribs from being doubled over like this, recognizing the name of the record that ilya had been playing on the bus; shane had peeked over at his phone during the uneventful ride, wanting to remember the album for future listening. he pulls the cd from the shelf with care and inserts it into the cd player, setting the case right on top after pressing play.
something catches shane's eye on his walk back to the bed, open closet door demanding his attention. he should lie down and mind his business, the sounds of radiohead wafting from the cd player now mingling with the slight clamor of ilya rummaging around for things not too far away. shane looks to the closet, then to the basement stairs, then back again as he comes to a quick decision, once more going against the deep ache in his middle and pulling his hoodie off along with his shirt.
when ilya returns, shane is indeed sitting at the edge of the bed ... wearing one of ilya's jerseys and trying not to laugh as he puts on his best impression of a russian accent— ❛ hi. ❜
‧ ᯓ ☦︎ ▒ . ❘❘❘ ──── ilya gathers his supplies for / @hollandeir on the double , ( a can of ginger ale , a bag of peas from the freezer , a wash cloth from his bathroom , a container of ibuprofen ) anxious to return to the dreamily bruised boy in his room .
he can hear the music circling the room as he pads down the hall , all together smitten by shane’s choice — the album that he had shown him on the bus . ilya wasn’t all too aware at how perceptive shane was when it came to subjects regarding ilya , but ilya felt touched that shane had decided to continue listening to songs he recommended . shane wanted to know more about all of the parts of ilya that he had yet to show anyone yet , including his music taste . and without his own real interest in music , it moved ilya to see shane going on his own journey of discovery and still picking something related to him . trying to hide his smile as he walks in , ilya stops dead in his tracks at the event unfolding before him . the smiles breaks into a ridiculous grin , following by the soft bell of his laugh in response .
❛ oh . ohkeigh . i see what is happening . i have mr . funny - man in my room . ❜ sauntering over to the boy , ilya places all the items down on his bedside table before collecting four painkillers from the bottle . cracking open the ginger ale , he turns back toward shane , hand outstretched with the pills in his palm and open can in his other . ──── ❛ he is very lucky i am so charmed by his jokes or i would yell at him for messing around while he was hurt . his russian needs some work still , i think . but we have time . ❜ he’s still laughing , pushing the other’s shoulder in adoring defeat . shane could have laid there and not said a word and ilya would still be delighted . but shane was so selfless , he was more worried about making ilya laugh than he was about his injuries . ──── ❛ take the pills , funny - man . then lay down . ❜
ilya returns to the side table , wrapping the frozen bag of peas in a washcloth . suddenly , he gulps , aware that he potentially might get to see the curves of shane’s abdomen again , albeit covered in bruises . ilya worries his lower lip between his teeth , determined to bury the thoughts before they can unravel him , and trying not to let his dick think for him for once in his life . whereas ilya typically finds a strong footing in all endeavors of his life , instead of spinning gracefully on his heel , ilya almost trips over his feet as he turns back to the boy in his bed . holy shit , shane was in his bed , Черт... он здесь, и он так близко . ──── ❛ which hurts worse ? face or ribs ? ❜
the next few seconds are a whirlwind of getting shane's sweater back on and moving to the couch, the book ilya throws at him smacking his shoulder. shane utters a hushed "ow!" before opening it up to a random page, eyes wide when he hears footsteps coming down the basement stairs and a voice calling out to ilya. if there were ever a time shane wishes he could phase through the floor and disappear, this would be it. the blanket and book conceal what's underneath well enough, but it's the slight guilt of what they'd been getting up to moments ago that has shane's heart racing like he's just run a marathon.
the unfamiliar voice increases in volume as its owner enters the basement. if elodie is beautiful, shane doesn't know it yet, and it's simply because he cannot make himself turn and greet her just yet. yuna would skin him alive if she knew her only child wasn't utilizing his manners, but she isn't here right now ( thank god ) and what she doesn't know won't hurt her. shane eyes flick to the left a few times, an attempt to look at elodie from the edge of his peripherals. he gives up once he catches a glimpse of her ruffling ilya's hair. there is a nauseous feeling that begins to settle in his gut at this discovery, and he breaks eye contact as soon as ilya initiates it. shane doesn't know what the feeling is, but he quickly decides he doesn't like it.
❛ yeah, um... ❜ it's difficult to find his voice, but shane manages after clearing his throat and focusing on the margin of the page before him, ❛ i have a curfew and we're not even halfway done, so. we should get back to it. ❜ shane blinks a few times in rapid succession and then finally forces himself to peek over at elodie. she looks like one of those catalog models that sell athletic wear, what shane imagines is the golden standard for an all-american girl. he knows if she went to hawkins high, the entire basketball team would be drooling over her like saint bernards. shane wants to run up the basement steps and never return at this realization, but then something miraculous happens. the sick feeling in his stomach abates as he stares across the couch at her.
because elodie is not the person who'd been in ilya's bed earlier, nor is she the person who'd had their hands on ilya's bare chest, coaxing quiet groans and whines from him in the process. shane is that person. and shane has decided he doesn't like how she clearly doesn't care how uncomfortable she's making ilya right now— ❛ it was nice to meet you, eleanor. ❜
‧ ᯓ ☦︎ ▒ . ❘❘❘ ──── ilya’s mouth snaps shut as soon as he realizes it has fallen open . / @hollandeir had called her eleanor .
he wanted to take the book from shane’s hand , throw it across the room , and straddle his lap as their lips collided . but elodie was still there , sitting on the couch , watching as shane turns his attention to her . as the incorrect name falls from his lips , elodie’s head snaps over to shane , eyes growing narrow as she manages to grumble out , ( " it’s elodie . and anyway , i should go too . my friends are picking me up . " ) . and as fast as she can stand , clearly shocked by shane’s words , she is making her way towards the stairs . perturbed by the lack of reciprocation from ilya and nobody immediately fawning over her presence , she turns before heading up the stairs , ( " ilya has a curfew too , just so you know . so . " ) her final attempt to assert her dominance fails flat as ilya shouts out to her . ──── ❛ shane might stay the night so do not worry about us . ❜ the door to the basement slams behind her , leaving a waft of her perfume and ilya devastatingly embarrassed .
falling back onto the floor so he’s laying horizontal on the rug , ilya’s hands go to cover his face in sheepish defeat . the last thing he was expecting was elodie flying down the stairs and attempting to make her presence known . it was clear that she thought he had a girl over , evident in her words , but she was instead met with shane . and there was no way elodie even considered shane was the person ilya was interested in , that they were anything more than friends , that they were both hard from touching each other wherever their hands wanted . the moment , now seemingly ruined , having been infiltrated by someone who was clearly also interested in ilya , seems so fragile . through his parted fingers , ilya manages to finally say something once his heart stops beating like a drum . ──── ❛ i am so sorry . ❜
managing to prop himself up on his elbows , ilya looks over to shane on the couch . he really had dressed him , thrown him around the room , and attempted to cover their makeout in the guise of studying . he could’ve died right there in the whitaker’s basement , shirt half unbuttoned and cheeks red with worry . ──── ❛ she was not supposed to be here . please . do not go . ❜ lifting himself from the floor , ilya , unmoored and nervous all over again , plops himself down next to shane . placing a tender hand on his knee , still covered by the blanket ( which ilya acknowledges was used to cover his arousal with a gentle scrunch of his fingers ) . ──── ❛ i mean . i get it if you want to . but i was having very good time . i think we both were , yes ? ❜ attempting to crush the awkwardness , ilya’s eyebrows raise and his head bobs to nod to both of their groins . leaning in closer to shane , eyes dark and lashes fluttering , ilya whimpers , ──── ❛ if you need convinced , i thought it was really hot when you called her wrong name . were you jealous ? ❜
arm snugly wrapped around ilya's chest and own body at complete ease, shane smiles at the kisses along his jaw. nothing but peace and comfort fill his senses, feelings only intensifying as he witnesses ilya also relaxing into the water. the enormous bathtub had been one of the best investments when picking things out for the house, shane knowing a tub without ample room would simply be a waste of space. it's good to know his knack for practicality can be utilized in various areas of their now shared life. shane scoffs as he tunes into what his boyfriend is saying. "boring." he's heard that one too many times to count. ❛ it's not boring, it's important! but i'm just letting you know that i'm fine. i knew what i was getting into when i drove here. ❜
and isn't this how it typically goes when they steal away some time to see each other, anyway? their reunions have always been a whirlwind of discarded clothing and hushed whispers, escalating to exasperated groans and declarations of love on whatever available surface they happen to be near during that visit. the only thing that has changed throughout more recent years is the sincerity of those declarations, their strengthened bond making all other aspects of their relationship follow suit. shane can't remember the last time he left ilya's company without telling him how much he loves him. selfishly, he hopes ilya can't remember either.
❛ oh my god, shut up ! ❜ shane places one of his hands over his boyfriend's mouth when ilya mentions how he'd made shane cry, skin beneath his freckles glowing bright red. he stifles a soft laugh, not even wanting to think about how he'd looked and sounded in the throes of overstimulation, an element of shyness clouding his thoughts now that his heart rate has returned to normal. hand lowering from ilya's mouth to his throat, shane keeps his palm there, touch light. there is something oddly soothing about being able to feel the light thrum of his boyfriend's pulse underneath his fingertips, the slight flex when he swallows. ❛ you are a nice guy. even when you're being an asshole. ❜
a pretty flush descends upon shane's features when ilya's shoulder touches his, smile unshakeable. ilya's praise is like a drug to shane; ever since they'd properly met and had taken note of their comparable skills on the ice, shane had always made sure his own were up to par just to make their games more interesting. whenever their schools end up playing against each other, no one in the stands really knows who will end up winning. it's a high shane chases every single time he sees silver falls on the schedule in the locker room. in the here and now, he chases it all the same in the form of pointing at a large stuffed bear with eyes that would put bette davis to shame.
the employee retrieves the bear with mild difficulty and then hands it to shane. ❛ see? told you i'd win you something. first try, too, ❜ he declares proudly before placing the bear in ilya's arms. the fuzzy creature stares at the blond with its big, watery eyes as if to appeal to his kind nature. shane tries to stop grinning like an idiot and fails, delighted expression now a semi-permanent fixture whenever ilya is around.
neon lights from the game booths and rides that surround them reflect in hazel eyes as shane looks up into them, and he wishes more than anything that all of this were easier. he's wedged between the acceptance stage of his crush and the looming fear of rejection now, having gone from zero to one hundred in a matter of minutes. ilya can probably have anyone he wants at the drop of a hat; why in the hell would he ever consider someone like shane?
❛ i bet you could knock down all the bottles in that game over there, ❜ he says when he finds his voice again, unknowingly pointing at the same game ilya had been thinking of only moments prior. shane pokes a gentle fingertip into one of ilya's biceps as if to point out exactly why shane knows he can win, gesture more flirtatious than he sets out to make it.
‧ ᯓ ☦︎ ▒ . ❘❘❘ ──── as the plush bear is placed in his hands , ilya holds it gingerly , only looking at / @hollandeir with thankful eyes as he tries not to be overcome with the fluttery feelings that have come over him .
it was so simple , probably mass produced , and about ten identical copies hung along with the other prizes . but something about the one that sat in his palms , the one shane had won for him , made his heart swell . such a stupid little bear , with big stupid eyes , and dark fur . fuck . ilya was going to put it in his bed later that night and he was going to look at it and he was going to think of shane with his eyes that matched the bear’s perfectly . this couldn’t have been some evil plan on shane’s part , why would he want ilya to think about him like that ? plenty of things ilya could chalk up to things that friends just did , like the finger that pokes his arm now . but this ? why did this feel so different ?
Iiya only snaps out of the moment when shane’s voice finally breaks him . he thinks that shane’s voice could pull him down from any height that his brain took him to , even in the loud flurry of the festival . ilya nods his head , swallows down his nerves that he built up himself thinking about shane potentially having feelings for him back , and finally manages to pull his gaze from the bears . he tucks it under his arm like something that needed protection but quickly grabs shane’s wrist in the same movement . needing to get some of his energy out now , giddy from the time spent in shane’s company , ilya runs the two across the crowd to the game they had somehow both settled on for ilya . that shouldn’t feel different either , but of course , it does .
❛ why do you bet this ? because i am so big and strong ? ❜ ilya slaps his own dollar down on the counter , before handing the bear over to shane in exchange for the balls from the game worker . ──── ❛ take care of him while i play . let me show you how to do this , kid . ❜ ilya stretches his neck , then crosses his arms over his chest , and makes a good show of extending his chest to warm up for the game that he already knows he is going to win . it can’t hurt to flirt , to let shane know that it was okay to look without saying anything at all . ilya cocks his arm back , breathing in sharply , and sends the ball full force with all of his strength at the bottles on the shelf . it felt like child's play as all of the bottles toppled down in a boisterous pile of clattering glass . ──── ❛ oхуенно ! ❜ the smile on his face hurts his cheeks , happy to show shane he was just as good as him at these games but also happy to win shane a prize in return . ilya motions to the blonde , curly dog on the shelf , motioning for shane to step up and take his bounty .
the concept of ilya intruding on shane's life is ridiculous, and shane expresses this sentiment by scoffing and shaking his head in disbelief, face still red. their feelings are out in the open now, left nothing to hide. a weight lifts from shane's shoulders. ❛ it's not intruding if you made everything better. ❜ words earnest and expression soft, shane risks looking at ilya again. the sliver of moonlight that falls across his face makes him look otherworldly; an ethereal being sent to save shane from the monotony and loneliness of his everyday life in hawkins. shane wishes he knew exactly who to thank for bestowing this gift of companionship upon them both.
ilya's embrace is so warm and comforting that shane finds himself yawning, whereas moments ago he'd felt wide awake, energy replenished by the buzz of their shared confessions. he doesn't want to think about the fact that ilya will have to sneak back out of the house in the early morning hours, nor how he'll have to go tomorrow night without ilya this close to him again. for now, he will enjoy and appreciate each second spent in one another's company.
❛ you're not allowed to suffer, by the way. i forgot to say that. so don't even think about it. ❜ another yawn follows this statement, shane's heavy eyelids unable to stay open with how comfortable he is. ilya's heartbeat is his sole focus now, tuning everything else out and lulling him into a deep, fulfilling sleep.
unaware of having missed the point, shane enjoys the song regardless. maybe it has more to with ilya wanting to show him something he likes more than the song itself. he will pay closer attention next time he chooses to re-listen, and it will change everything. ❛ oh, ❜ shane says quietly, regretting the question about his own lack of listening habits up until ilya suggests making him a playlist. something tugs at his heartstrings then, stomach doing a somersault. he can tell music is important to ilya, and he files this away for future reference.
❛ i'd like that. both things. the playlist, and hanging out again. ❜ shane smiles brightly, expression like sunshine in contrast to the gloomy fall weather outside. rain continues to pour down over the bus windows for the rest of the ride, and when they finally arrive at the stop closest to ilya's street, shane pulls his hood up and waits for ilya to disembark before following along like a baby duck. it isn't as rainy in silver falls, a light drizzle at best, and as shane falls into step beside ilya, he realizes that he'll have to call eddie for a ride back into town later if he wants to keep up this current lie with his parents. he hopes the van doesn't smell like smoke.
❛ is anyone going to mind that i'm coming over? ❜ shane asks softly, almost forgetting the pain in his ribs and around his eyes at the thought of having to make awkward introductions despite how polite he always is. and then the static-like anxiety is replaced with wonder. he gets to see ilya's room soon. where ilya sleeps and does his homework and listens to music. shane's mind starts going a million miles a minute, not knowing what to picture in his mind's eye quite yet. did ilya have a lot of posters up on his walls? how many pillows sat on his bed? was his closet messy, or well organized? did he have a record player, or a cd player? in the midst of his endless curiosity, shane doesn't realize they've arrived until they're halfway up the driveway already.
˖ ‧ ᯓ ☦︎ ▒ . ❘❘❘ ──── as they shuffle off the bus , ilya stuffs his hands in his hoodie pocket and falls in step with / @hollandeir .
the rain mists over the pair and ilya wishes suddenly he had an umbrella . it would have been nice to stand closer to shane , to hold the umbrella over his head and protect him from the drizzle . the need to shield shane from outside forces grows each time they are together . from the unavoidable truths of the weather to the perpetrators of shane’s injuries , ilya could feel the walls of affection closing in on him more and more by the second . it was true that shane did not need protected , he did not ask for ilya to do this or feel this way , but he considers that maybe this is just what happens when you like someone . it is not normal to provide safe harbor for the ones for which you harbor feelings ?
they head off down the street towards the whitaker’s and ilya turns to shane , charmed by his hood being up . bundled up in soft post game wear , shane’s freckles were alarmingly visible against the starkness of his skin . he looked like he had spent his life in sunshine , letting his skin tan while the speckles on his cheeks bloomed into something beautiful . ──── ❛ no . no . of course not . the whitaker’s are at a marriage retreat or something . and i do not not know about elodie , the whitaker’s daughter . she is probably with her friends . either way , they would not mind . we can just go to my room anyway . ❜ the daunting thought of shane being in the place that ilya slept made his skin turn warm . suddenly , the memory of whether his room was clean or dirty flew from his mind . god , it was probably a mess . there was an ash tray by the window , coke cans by his bedside , clothes probably littered the floor . maybe his black eye would stop him for seeing just how messy of a boy he was .
as they approach the house , ilya digs for his keys attached to his wallet chain . the lack of cars in the driveway prove his theories , they would be alone , and he tries not to look too nervous as he lets them inside the mudroom . motioning shane to follow him down the stairs by grabbing his hand gently after kicking off his wet shoes , ilya begins the descent to his bedroom . it wasn’t as bad as he remembered . perhaps past ilya had the foresight to keep his room tidied enough for company , even though he had no clue shane would be visiting . his plaid sheets were askew under his comforter and a few pairs of sweats were on the floor in haphazard piles . ──── ❛ sorry . is a bit of a mess … sit on the bed , i will get you ice . ❜ ilya pads off down the hall to the storage room off the garage where the drink fridge sits , yelling out to his guest . ──── ❛ you could pick music too , if you wanted . cds and records are by the tv . do you want something to drink ? ❜
a sauna where the air is too thick.
RANDOM SETTINGS, ACCEPTING ( ... ) FEATURING KAZIMÍR MAYKOV AND ILYA ROZANOV.
𝓘f it were any warmer, he might actually burst into flames. The heat leaves him lingering on the precipice, taunting ᴰᴱᴬᵀᴴ as one might stare down the barrel of a loaded gun. Dried wormwood and spindly branches of white birch and eucalyptus were bundled together and strung tightly across the walls, cloaked in a thin wet sheen of dew. The баня* [ BANYA / STEAM BATH* ] was nearly empty at this hour, stripped of every sign of life until all that was left was something quite … other. The parilka that lay at the heart of the building was occupied by the two creatures, who seemed all the more content to suffocate in the rigid and unyielding humidity. The wood fire stove crackled softly in the near distance — a subtle backdrop to a quiet ritual that hardly held any purpose for him anymore.
“This, they say, helps with circulation, immune system … ”
But what of the man with neither? The walking, talking, devilish corpse who cannot seem to stray from an ancient routine that had existed long before him and would exist long after? It was strange, the habits that lingered in the afterlife. Even stranger, how much he dared to push his own limits when he was already dead. There is an almost smile that nears his lips, yet remains imperceptible ... amused by his own contradictions.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ“ — Seems silly now, no?”
˖ ‧ ᯓ ☦︎ ▒ . ❘❘❘ ──── perhaps there was an edge of irony to being packed like sardines with / @lesvampirs in a room that offered them no other solace but to warm their ancient skin .
maybe that was why the demon liked it . so keen on seeking out sensation unbeknownst to him . focusing hard , he can recall the primordial pool in which he was plucked by the balmy hand of his creator . it was much like this — warming to the touch , a little bit damp , conceivably comforting in a way that felt like going home . shrouded in a towel , the dim room offers little aside from the steady glow of his archaic eyes , tiny yellow beams of energy , feasibly something more similar to the flame that burned to keep the coals sending steam into their chambers . it was nice , the beast considers , to lick his metaphorical wounds in a place that others tend to their physical ones . what could not be touched by magic could be touched by the incensed smog of whatever ingredients bathed the air . ──── ❛ perhaps . healing the body , that is one thing . happens quickly on its own for me . but this feels nice for up here . relaxing , probably . ❜ a quick tap - tap with his pointer finger to his temple .
it was a funny thing to consider . the human anatomy of his body that did not run like the typical mortals had always enthused ilya . for who did his creator mirror him if not for them mortal form ? he was content as the beast , a monstrous hoofed thing that lurked the forest . so what was this body for other than to connect with others ? if he was meant to connect , then having some common ground certainly gave him a leg up . for lack of knowledge in culture , he made up for it in his loud allure . ringlet curls flattened to his forehead , he shrugs . ──── ❛ silly is good sometimes . there is a lot to learn , Банный комплекс может помочь , da ? ❜
happy pride month !!! ilya is bisexual and in love with a man !!
❛ ilya... ❜ shane whispers as he's pulled in. chest to chest like this, he's never felt closer to another person in his entire life. their breaths almost seem to sync up, heartbeats matching in breakneck rhythm, ilya's fingertips leaving behind trails of goosebumps as they traverse up and along whatever bare skin they can reach. shane's own hands don't travel far, but are no less eager as they caress ilya's face alongside every shared kiss. he thinks he's doing well enough despite the initial anxiety, up until ilya's lips begin to stray. shane accidentally lets out a gasp when those lips embark on a mission to map out his neck, the sound gradually evolving into a low moan he's unable to stop in its tracks. his body feels like it's on overdrive, only capable of nodding in response when ilya asks if it's okay.
it's more than okay, shane wants to say, but he's too caught up in the absolute bliss of how ilya's lips feel on his skin, how he's never experienced this exciting jolt of curiosity and arousal with anyone else before. above all else, ilya checking in and making sure he's still comfortable with everything that's happening endears him to shane even more ... because of course ilya would care this much. of course he wants shane to feel safe. face flushed, shane is forced to find his voice in order to ask for what he wants. ❛ um. can you do that again? my neck, i mean. it just. it felt nice, ❜ he manages to get out, breathing out a small laugh at how nervous he is. there is no other way to get what he desires, he knows this by now. ilya will not do anything shane doesn't want, which means shane will have to bite back his fear of sounding stupid and learn to ask.
shane's hands take their turn to wander along ilya's chest once soft lips return to his neck, and he tilts his head to give ilya more access. only then does he notice the music playing in the background, pulse having been too loud in his ears before for his brain to acknowledge it. the music evokes the same feeling he'd experienced on the bus when ilya had shared his earbuds with him. shane smiles. ❛ fuck, that feels good, ❜ and he's about to apologize for how hard he's getting from neck kisses alone when he hears a car door slam right outside. shane freezes, eyes opening in slight panic. he tries to pick up on any other sound beyond the music in ilya's bedroom and thinks he hears another nearby. panic underlies his voice, and he realizes that if anyone is in the driveway right now, they can see his mom's car parked at the curb. ❛ i thought you said no one was going to be home. ❜
˖ ‧ ᯓ ☦︎ ▒ . ❘❘❘ ──── never has there been a time where ilya was more entranced than he was with / @hollandeir in his bed , nipping at the sensitive skin of his neck as his hands explore his body .
shane keeps talking , saying exactly what he wants and how he feels , and ilya is on fire . with his neck tilted back and face towards the ceiling , ilya makes quick work of devouring every inch of exposed skin . sucking gently under his ear , licking a thin line along the muscle that runs from his collar bone to his jaw , adorning his neck wholly with his lips all while humming dreamily . he can feel shane stiffen against his lower stomach and drums go off in his head . how could he be doing this to shane with his lips alone ? what was going to happen to them when they finally were able to get their hands on each other ? ilya knows he will fall apart , torn to shreds by the bliss of being with shane in that way . he’s twitching too in his boxers already , hips rolling involuntarily underneath shane . as shane pulls away , he helplessly leans forward to catch him lips again , but is met with eyes wide and the din of car doors slamming outside in the driveway . if he wasn’t so turned on , he might’ve choked on the breath that is no longer catching in ecstasy , but instead transforming quickly into panic .
hazel eyes widen with brown ones , and he’s trying not to raise too much concern , for his own sake , but also shane’s . theres a reassuring hand on shane’s cheek as he reaches for the sweater next to them . ──── ❛ blyat . they are not supposed to be . arms up . ❜ ilya’s hands tickle shane’s side with gentle coaxing , having him raise his arms to slide his blue sweater back over his head . he doesn’t want to move shane , partially because he was having such a nice time and also partially because he was very visibly hard in his gray sweats . but he has to . so he prompts shane to get up by attempting to get up himself and grabs his hand . ilya can hear the door opening now with a jangle of keys and the clomp of heavy feet . fucking elodie . her voice calls out now as ilya has shane sit on the cushion , squeezing his shoulders and giving him a blanket from the back of the couch . ( " ilya ? who’s car is that ? do you have a girl here ? you know what my mom says about girls in the house when she’s not here . you better be fucking decent . fuck that , im coming down ! " )
he’s shaking now , rattled as he grabs a book and flings it towards shane and dives toward the carpet near shane’s feet where his backpack sat . she’s coming down the stairs now , trotting down quickly as ilya grabs handfuls of paper to feign like they were doing homework and not both hard and covered in each other’s spit . elodie is chewing gum when she rounds the corner , blonde hair and blue eyes glinting in her silver falls tennis uniform . practice must’ve ended early and she loved an excuse to come downstairs and flirt shamelessly , ( " this isn’t a girl . who is this ? friend from school ? " ) traipsing across the carpet , elodie sits down on the end of the couch far from shane , closer to ilya , and ruffles his golden curls . ilya rolls his eyes , blatantly pissed at his makeout session being interrupted by her obnoxious entrance and constant need to inject herself into ilya’s life . she was pretty , sure . and every guy wanted her . but ilya was not every guy , very evident in his now subsiding boner as he locks eyes with shane in an attempt to apologize . ( " i’ve never seen you before . you go somewhere else ? " ) biting his lips , ilya rolls his body to the side to avoid her touch , perturbed and truly not in the mood . ──── ❛ yes . this is shane . he goes to hawkins high . he is helping me with english project . ❜. ilya tuts , biting his cheek to stop himself from saying anything rude . but she continues on , ( " why didn't you just ask me , rozanov ? you know i have an A in english . " ) ilya sits up now , ready for this conversation to be over so he can go back to kissing shane . ──── ❛ because . shane is my good friend . and we wanted to ... hang out . alone . ❜