heated rivalry has ruined me (and everyone else)
heated rivalry fic rec list part 2
heated rivalry fic rec list part 3
Of course. Of course the thing that would bring me back to this hellsite would be the goddamn winter olympics but Gay. As my friend Morty would say, this is Yuuri on Ice all over again, christ. I wasn't in that fandom but you better believe I was at the scene of crime like that community meme, watching everyone go collectively nuts. Well Morty, I'm here. I'm fucking here in the trenches of another fandom, another year, where everyone and their grandmas are going crazy over gay hockey players. Fuck me. If I'm here, I'm gonna drag everyone down with me. So here is a list of fics that have driven me nuts this past, what, month now? I'm in hell. Enjoy burning in the fire everyone. *peace out sign*
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[Heated Rivalry] (i have a mini breakdown on why this fucking fandom has dragged me into it's clutches at the end. stay tuned if you want to see me lose my goddamn mind. have fun you crazy kids.)
(also, i'm not crazy enough to write mini summaries for every single fic on this list this time. just know they are all god-tier and you're absolutely missing out if you haven't read them yet. i don't have the time or energy to do it so just take me at my word when i say your life is not complete without embedding these fics into your brain. these authors are gifts from mother earth and i beseech you to love them as i do. they're doing the Work and giving people (me, people is me) what they want.)
there is no heart for me like yours by profdanglais
Ilya Rozanov has been drafted by Boston, the number one pick overall, but his father doesn't want him moving to America and so takes steps to block his visa. He's going to have to go back to Russia and stay there forever and that, thinks Shane Hollander, is wrong. It's so wrong that Shane can't stop himself from doing something about it. Even though that something is the most reckless, the only reckless thing he's ever done in his life. He marries Rozanov in secret, to keep him out of Russia and put him on a path to Canadian citizenship. Shane's got a five-year plan to get him there and when you have a plan nothing can go wrong. Right? Right. When you have a solid plan and a marriage that's on paper only there's no risk of feelings getting involved. Not on Rozanov's part and certainly not on Shane's. Right??? (or, the story of how Shane Hollander fell in love with his own husband)
we cannot waste time (—only ourselves.) by llamallamaduck
The photos leak on a Wednesday. Ilya sets his life and career on fire on Sunday, mostly out of spite. On Monday, he is the first out queer player in the NHL. Nobody handles the ensuing circus well, least of all Scott Hunter.
(i need to say this. this fucking fic is the reason i got into heated rivalry because i did a looney tunes head turn seeing THIS crossover queen author write for this fandom. you need to read this. scott has never been more deranged and this fic has absolutely painted how i see that lonely serial killer eyes of a man. and shane is burning at the stake, it's so fucking funny. ilya, come save your man. and someone save ilya. we're all in a congo line of men who need some goddamn therapy, jeez)
And how could you be no one (When you're everything to me) by FingerGunz
After one reckless night, Ilya Rosanov makes a wish: that he had never been with Shane Hollander. The universe listens.
i called your freckles beautiful so you decided to learn my language? by apageinthisbook
December 23, 2008 “Freckles?” He askes and points to the dots on his cheekbones. Ilya nods in agreement and commits the word freckles to memory. “You like my freckles.” The blush is back when Shane realizes what he said. Ilya has the sudden thought that this moment is important, a voice in his head that might sound like his mother, or might be his own that says, don’t fuck this up, not this one. Ilya decides very suddenly that he is going to listen, and against every instinct ingrained in him, decides to be honest. June 27, 2009 “You forget English again, Rozanav? Are my vesnushki that distracting?” Ilya laughed, caught off guard. “So you know Russian now, Shane Hollander?”
Part 1 of a little more romeo, a little more juliet
(please please please read this series. it's so cute. they're so fucking in love. this is truly the definition of young love speed running through life without any interference. i need these two to be happy and supportive of each other so bad.)
The chips are set to fall by icopythefax
At the 2017 All Star Weekend, Ilya takes fate into his own hands to produce at least one out MLH player by the end of the season. Thus begins his part-time side hustle as community organizer, mastermind, and Commander-in-Chief of the Gay Hockey Army.
It had to be you, Wonderful you by bannerthyme
Shane cups her cheek in his hand, running his thumb over the plush of her bottom lip. She looks at him through her fawnish lashes. He roves his eyes over her body. Her shoulders and biceps, her abs… She's so strong, so… Incredible. "I've never done that before," he admits, "Not with... with a woman, at least." "Right, well," she rolls her eyes, "Would probably be better with a real man, yes?" He shakes his head, "No. It wouldn't have been the same at all." - - - or, Shane comes to terms with his sexuality only to get thrown right back into confusion by Rozanov.
(this fic is Gendering So Hard kskgieigjjv. ilya is trans!male, as in born a girl but actually a guy. Shane is Gay as ever which, you know, is so fucking confusing for him. must read. devoured this like crack, shane is acting buck wild in a way that's 100% in character for him in this au. love that for him. and ilya? god, the character exploration on him makes me want to mail champagne to the author.)
Just Guys Being Dudes by FightMeImSmall
Ilya and Shane get outed via instagram live… as friends. The world reacts as their friendship becomes the most talked about thing in the hockey world. Being openly friends affords them more freedoms to be together, but all the more easy to lose it all. AKA Shane has a touch of Hudson Williams to him
twenty stitches in a hospital room by hollidayparty
Ilya was only a few strides behind Shane on the ice. He clocked the angle before the hit even landed; Marlow coming in too hot, too fast, shoulder high. Shane turned and slowed at the wrong moment, skates clipping, balance gone. Impact. The sound carried oddly through the arena, duller than boards, sharper than ice. Shane went down hard, helmet skidding, body twisting. And then it all happened at once. Skates tangled. Marlow stumbled over him as he fell, too. A skate’s blade flashed too close, too sharp. -------------------------------- Shane's injuries during the Boston/Montreal game are much more life-threatening than in canon. Ilya's quick thinking and bone-deep instincts are the only reason he survives.
(everything this author writes is fucking gold. read their other hr fics too. i want to pick their brain and see if all that grey matter concentrates primarily on writing excellent angst and comfort.)
The desired, the damned (you were designed just for me) by Pirol
Being an autistic Russian boy was a problem. Ilya’s English was bad; his social skills were even worse. There was a constant, lingering feeling of never fitting in—neither with his family nor with the other players. Rozanov was good on ice, but not confident enough to believe it. And then there was this boy. Bold. Charismatic. Always watching him. Shane Hollander never looked away. He got under Ilya’s skin so deeply Rozanov couldn’t get him out of his head. (OR: Reverse AU! shy Rozanov × confident Hollander)
good on my own accord by impetuous
No serious hockey fan or sports commentator worth their salt would have considered record-breaking Boston superstar Ilya Rozanov to be Shane Hollander’s rival exactly, but sleeping with a man who had a specific offense-related vendetta against him and a wrist shot like a jet engine to back it up was probably ill-advised just the same. Or, Shane is a goalie. Ilya can’t score.
(ilya just can't win and it's driving him nutzo. and shane? well, shane is Winning at Life and has no fucking idea how much ilya is crashing out over his ass. truly, goalie!shane is the best damn concept to exist and there's another fic right here that explores goalie!shane too, just in case anyone wants to tap that. Both fics are incredibly satisfying to read, please do so!)
The Hottest Cold War by Vee (Vera_DragonMuse)
Ships: Scott/Ilya, Ilya/Shane, Scott/Kip (all applicable and these ships are sprinting together in a four legged race to the finish line)
Once is a mistake, twice is terrible judgment, three times is enemy action. After four times, it might just be something worse. OR What if Scott hooked up with Ilya during the summer of 2010 entirely by accident, then kept doing it on purpose.
(this has my attention like nothing else. nothing. i'm climbing in this author's walls, this is a ship that fucking WORKS, okay? i'm a multi-shipper at heart and this ticks all my boxes. canon would've been so much less angsty if ilya and scott had someone backing their corner the whole way through, it's genuinely incredible.)
Dunkin' and Cigarettes by Oakstone730
Instead of being the end, the tuna melt was just the beginning. OR Shane Hollander eats three jelly doughnuts and Ilya rescues him.
through whatever you lose by aloneintherain (they've joined the fray. we are blessed.)
Shane’s eyes snap open. Wait a second. “Ilya,” Shane says, propping himself up on his elbows. “Ilya, wake up.” Ilya makes a pained noise, eyes still shut. “I shut curtains already.” “It’s not that. Ilya, hey. Don’t go back to sleep.” Ilya tries to bury back into Shane’s chest, but adrenaline knifes through Shane’s hangover long enough for him to peel Ilya off and roll him into his back. Ilya blinks blearily up at him, starfished in the sheets. Beautiful and naked and missing his mother’s cross. OR: When Ilya’s cross goes missing after the Centaurs celebrate their first Stanley Cup win, Shane is determined to get it back. And so are the Centaurs. And the rest of Ottawa.
Brotherhood of Hockey Secret Keepers by JuHuaTai
Hayden Pike found out who Boston Lily was through a mishap of his own making, in Boston, 2014. Cliff Marlow figured out the truth behind Montreal Jane through the power of friendship and vodka, in Montreal, 2015. In 2017, they found themselves working together to cover for the Most Obvious Secret in NHL, while Boston Raiders and Montreal Metros were trapped together during a snowstorm.
(it's so funny. it's so so funny i can't man. this made me scream laugh multiple times. god. marly and hayden single-handedly kept this ship from sinking into the abyss where the nhl press waits with baited breath.)
back and forth from new york by alphalupi
After coming out to Rose, Shane decides he doesn't want to lie anymore, even if he isn't sure coming out will mean he gets happily ever after with Ilya. When coming out to the Voyageurs leaves him wondering what his future in Montreal might look like, he lets himself be a little selfish, he lets himself wonder if there might be somewhere else he might be happy. If Montreal wants to get rid of a generational player, he's not about to stop them, especially if it means he can get a little closer to joy. -- Or: Shane Hollander leaves Montreal in search of something better.
Part 1 of back and forth from new york
(if there were olympics for fics, this would win gold. every time.)
(We Could Be) Something Great by Anonymous
When Ilya Rozanov goes down on the ice, the Boston Bears are already moving to defend their captain. No one expects Shane Hollander, captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, to be the one who throws the first punch. Or: the Boston Bears figure out Ilya and Shane’s relationship first—and decide that instead of letting their captain move to fucking Ottawa, they’ll just kidnap a his boyfriend instead. Shane Hollander would make a better Bear anyway.
(in this house, we love the boston bears. we love a bunch of straight himbos just Doing Their Best and kidnapping the golden boy of hockey. cannot overstate enough how hard this fic goes on the competence kink, it's amazing. i would kiss every hand until i find this anon just so my appreciation for this fic could reach them. yes, i know i sound crazy. i'll own that. this fandom has Done something to me.)
get him back! by flairlies
Stuck in an alt-world where he and Shane never hooked up as teenagers, Ilya is determined to get Shane back. To do that, Ilya has to figure out a way to get Shane to see him as anyone other than the Russian asshole who has spent a decade pissing him off. It can't be that hard to make your husband fall in love with you... right? Basically: Shane Hollander makes a wish with good intentions. Ilya Rozanov wakes up confused, single, closeted, and miserable in Boston. +Bonus Chapter where AltWorld!Ilya wakes up confused, married, out, and carefree in Ottawa
tell it slant by tofuflower
He’s not alone—hardly ever is, in Boston. But maybe, just maybe, he’s lonely. It sneaks up on him in stupid moments: standing in line at the bank, catching a ride with Connors after practice, because he doesn’t have a car yet. Lying awake at night with the low hum of traffic outside and the wrong kind of silence pressing in around him. - In his rookie year, Ilya makes an anonymous online friend. Unfortunately, it's a terrible idea.
(hayden and ilya friendship without them even knowing. yes. you heard right.)(#when u make the mistake of making an online friend and it turns out they're your biggest hater irl)(this tag tells you all you need to know.)
Out but for What? by lameykindaworld
Shane finds his first love in the form of his coach's son when he is 15 years old. Their love is young and naive. Shane never thought he would be outed, but after poor attempts at concealing their "relationship" Shane is faced with a reality he never even fathomed. Not one to let his NHL dreams go to waste, Shane strives to be the first openly gay NHL player, even if it kills him.
Part 1 of Out but for What? (Bonus Chapters)
esplanade by etben
"Hey. Hey, Hollander." Shane sighs, drains the last sip of his beer, and turns towards the voice. "You mind if I ask you a question?" Can I fucking stop you? OR: Shane Hollander meets a Boston Raiders fan. The conversation doesn't go quite how he expects.
The Thing I Said I Wouldn't Do by billyandpatrick
What if Scott Hunter was waiting for an elevator in Vegas? What if Shane and Ilya had an emotional support Old Man and his Art History Twink?
(the summary understates just how fucking cracky this fic is. genuinely, this is in my top 3 hr fics of just how Unhinged literally every character is. its perfect. shane hollander has never been more feral in his LIFE.)
thunder breaks (when i open my mouth) by allthesefeels
Rozanov’s gaze flickers down, to Shane’s outstretched hand waiting silently in the air, before flickering back up to his face. He takes another drag of his cigarette before dropping it on the pavement, smushing it beneath his heel. He reaches into his pocket, takes out his phone and starts typing. The screen is a little dim, but Shane can read the note as clear as day. Ilya. His jaw is tense, working. He looks back at his phone, typing rapidly, before turning it back to Shane. Yes, I understand English. I don’t talk. -- Or, Ilya stopped speaking at age twelve. Shane decides he's worth hearing anyway.
no coverage by vesperenzia
when shane hollander comes out as gay to the montreal voyageurs, he expects pushback before things return to normal. he did not expect to be benched, isolated, and quietly traded to ottawa six weeks later. he definitely didn't expect that he would be getting married to the love of his life in a courthouse before either of them is ready to go public. OR!! shane comes out to the voyageurs after breaking up with rose and that changes everything.
we'll make a home on the cracks by novara12
All it takes is one principled stand for Shane Hollander's life to completely unravel. As he tries to untangle the thread, he finds that every end leads back to Ilya Rozanov.
(journalist shane! with hockey player ilya! god, i don't usually go for shane not being a hocky player, it feels like the anti-thesis to who he is, but fuck, this fic feels like a weighted blanket after a long day. i love their relationship, i love that they're friends first! it's so genuine and it truly feels like a what-if in another life. but in the end, they're inevitable.)
Charged Up by HardPass
What if instead of walking in on Shane and Ilya making out, what if David came across Ilya alone at the Cottage? *** “I’m David. Hollander. Shane’s dad.” Ilya genuinely couldn’t figure out what the fuck to do. He needed to send out an SOS, but he had set his phone down somewhere and had no idea if it was in the sunroom, bedroom, or bathroom, and wasn’t about to go dash around to hunt it down. And as hard as he wracked his brain, he couldn’t come up with a single plausible explanation for his presence in Shane’s summer home other than, “I’m in love with your son. We have been fucking since we were teenagers. We have a ten year plan.” Instead, what he choked out was, “Sorry. No English.”
Undercover Wingman by beatlebun
Scott Hunter finds out about Rozanov and Hollander's affair completely by accident (by them being annoyingly oblivious nineteen-year-olds who don't know how thin hotel room walls are), and has to live the next ten years of his life in absolute misery as their undercover wingman, because someone has to keep these boys safe from themselves...
(in every universe, scott hunter is Suffering due to one or both of these rookies lmao)
Mama's Boy, Mama's Boy by WhimperSoldier
Shane's first mistake was going to talk to Ilya Rozanov before their game. His second was immediately, stupidly, meeting the eyes of Rozanov’s very much dead mother hovering at his side.
Part 1 of Ghost Irina AU
(to me, this is absolutely how i'll always characterize and think of irina rozanov. no question. every time she said or did something, all i could think was oh, that's definitely where ilya gets it from. he truly is his mother's son.)
Tightrope by yzba
Las Vegas, 2014 Shane doesn’t walk out of the hotel suite, choosing honesty instead.
Part 1 of Skywalk
(this fandom does not explore enough about shane having to face racism and the microaggressions he has to live through every day of his life. this series and the author's other series explores that identity so fucking well and i keep rereading passages because god, i found it way too relatable. also, shane deserves more people in his life and both series definitely gives him that. it's healing to see.)
SVNS by clapifyoucare
After a tough season the USA Rugby 7s captain Kip Grady spends his off-season in his hometown of New York. While out on a run, he crashes into a mysterious man and his bloody blueberry smoothie. This collision kicks off an unexpected connection at exactly the wrong time. or A Game Changers/Heated Rivalry EP 3 AU where Kip plays Rugby 7s!
(a rare kip/scott fic that has nothing to do with hollanov. never been into rugby and this fic is an eyeopener to just, how fucking crazy sports people are, holy hell. athletes have my full respect, what they do is fucking insane. but yeah, i love how different yet the same kip is and how scott and kip bond over being athletes and captains. ate this fic up like a buffet and now i want to spread the feast.)
the things that aid us by RamblingsofATwentySomethingFanboy
“I’m glad it’s us, at the top.” Ilya admitted, letting his legs spread a bit as he visibly relaxed. “All that noise, about me not being able to hear and your-” He motioned vaguely, and Shane finished for him, “Chronic pain?” “Yes, that.” he hummed, “Was all nonsense. You’re good at what you do.” Shane smiles, then. “I’m glad you think so.” “Not as good as me, obviously.” Ilya added, and Shane rolled his eyes. “Can’t be too nice to you, can I?” “Guess not.” Or, Shane Hollander has a chronic pain condition and Ilya Rozanov is deaf. This inevitably means that they're going to be compared to one another, and this is only made worse when they're drafted to rival teams The Montreal Metros and The Boston Bears as first and second pick. It was rare enough that mainstream sports received one disabled player but two? Drafted during the same season and always one-upping each other? Well, it was unheard of.
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(okay, here is me losing my mind on my friend, a transcript of me just, ranting at them because they're an angel and i needed to speak this into the void or i'll literally go coo coo insane.) @adelmortescryche
aerial: the more i think about this ship, the more its just, climbing up my list of fave ships. which is crazy. why. why morty. it has everything. aerial: its inevitable. its circumstantial. its legendary. its romeo and juliet. they're equals and no one can understand them better than each other. outside pov and social media fics can go nuts. COMPETENCE KINK. SO MANY GODDAMN KINKS. so much sex yet thats NOT what developed their relationship, its instead the starting point. enemies to lovers, but they never hated each other. secret relationship. love at first sight, but they dont know that until a decade later. LITERALLY A DECADE, OF HISTORY, THAT NO ONE BUT THEM KNOWS ABOUT. technically teenage sweethearts. yet not! not at all! aerial: just, the tropes are troping and no fucking wonder this fandom is rabid. no wonder canon divergence is one of the most popular tags. so many ways this ship could've gone. get together earlier or later. break up moments were possible, they could've broken it off anytime. things could've turned out so much worse, or so much better just due to circumstances outside their control. things could be wildly different or the same. new dynamics with each other or other people in their lives. genuinely, i cannot think of another fandom at the top of my head that has so many possibilities of how it could've gone yet always in the end, it's always them. how. HOW.
