Shane’s Solnyshko
Shane Hollander was 4 years old when he started to be fascinated with the sunshine in his kindergarten class. He learned all about the sunshine then: that it warms the earth giving heat to animals, plants and people including little Shane. That the sunshine makes everyone cheerful, and during long winter days when there are only a few hours of sunshine, everyone is lonely and sad. When they had a school play, Shane was cast as the sun and it was the happiest day of his pre-school life.
Growing up, Shane would always seek out the sunshine not only for warmth but because it always makes him feel relaxed and happy. He was happiest when he started to learn how to skate outdoors with the sunshine on his face and the ice on his feet. It felt like home to him. When he started playing hockey in arenas, he missed having the sunshine warming him up. He ignored it as he focused on harnessing his skills.
But that all changed when Shane met Ilya Rozanov. Though the Russian was not known to be friendly, he was warm towards Shane. Not at first mind you, he practically ignored him when Shane told him he couldn’t smoke in that particular place. Maybe he got pissed for being told off. Or maybe he really considered Shane as his arch enemy. But there was something in the way Ilya looked at him that didn’t make Shane feel… hated. Just awkward at best, Shane believed that he was really an awkward person. When Team Canada lost to Team Russia, it was a pierce to his heart, but he looked forward to playing with Ilya again.
Being the 2nd pick at the Draft was another blow to Shane. And who was picked the first? Who else but Ilya Rozanov. Shane was frustrated but when he saw Ilya arrive at the gym while he was working out, Shane felt warm all over. Maybe he was biking really hard? But his heart felt lighter even when it was beating so fast from… exertion, was it? When they collapsed on the gym floor, and spent a few minutes together, Shane was warm all over and happy, and was… hard?
Then the CCM commercial came which was not a total surprise for Shane because everyone was talking about him even when he hadn't even started playing yet. Generational player, they said. Barely out of his teens. It didn’t surprise him when Ilya was also in the commercial. They were the top picks and their teams were long known to be rivals. They were even described as rivals to each other. What surprised Shane was the way Ilya smiled and laughed during the faux face off. It was so carefree and… warm… like a ray of sunshine.
Then the knock came in his room at 1410 and Shane realized he really never knew the meaning of warmth and tenderness till then. He seeked out, nay, he chased Ilya's warm hands, mouth and body. Even Ilya’s cöckk was perfect. He never had a dïckk in his mouth before but everything just felt right.
The following years, Shane would deny it to himself and to death that he was seeking, craving Ilya’s warmth. How could he when they were both at the top of their careers and everyone was homophobic. On ice, they have perfected the art of war, but behind closed doors, they gravitated towards each other, fitting perfectly in each other's arms (and legs).
When Ilya asked him to stay in his apartment in Boston, Shane panicked but he couldn’t resist especially when Ilya smiled softly at him. It was like a ray of sunshine. When Ilya prepared tuna melt with ginger ale, when they were chatting on the couch, when they were frotting, Shane felt like he was orbiting around the sun. But like a moth to a flame, Shane panicked and got burnt. When he left Ilya on the couch, Shane felt his world turn dark.
Shadows… Shane felt them everywhere when he cut off all communication with and stopped seeing Ilya. Shadows were lurking everywhere making Shane feel cold all over. Even Rose, who was brilliant, funny, kind and beautiful, couldn't banish those shadows away.
When Shane saw Ilya at the bar in Tampa, all the shadows disappeared. He was with his sunshine again and he was on a mission to never lose him. The All Stars Game with he and Ilya on the same team was beautiful… hockey and the sunshine always soothed Shane. When they talked in Room 1217, they cried together but Shane never felt any cold.
When Shane was injured and Ilya visited him, he was sure that he would get better immediately. Why? Because his sunshine was healing him as they held each other’s hand. While Shane watched the playoffs between Boston and New York, Shane could feel shadows lurking but he never let them take over his heart and soul because he knew his sunshine would come through.
And when Shane picked up Ilya at the airport and they stayed at the cottage? He was basked in the glory of his sunshine. He knew, he knew, before saying “I like you,” “Ya tebya lublyu” and “I love you,” that his Ilya, Boston Raiders’ Captain, his Russian with soft, golden curls, blue eyes, the warmest smile with a big, strong heart, the love of his life was his sunshine… his SOLNYSHKO.