Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Shane was enjoying the post coital laying against Rozanov maybe a little too much. Yes he was sweaty and sticky and felt the desperate need for a shower. And yes, there was a wet spot under his left thigh that was making his skin crawl.

But he was enjoying the fact that there was absolutely nowhere he needed to be. No game. No practice. No brand outreach. His mom had strictly forbidden him from social media and had almost confiscated his phone until he promised.

He didn’t want to think about WHY that was the case, because he knew he’d start obsessing over something else that was out of his hands. So he was just… enjoying the moment.

And it was nice.

And then the doorbell rang.

And then rang again.

“If that is Pike because another sex tape has dropped, we are busy. Come back later.” Ilya said.

Shane sighed and slid off the bed, pulling Obi’s clothes back on over his sweaty body which made his flesh crawl, before staggering out to look at the security monitor.

It was Hayden, and Shane had a moment of panic, before realizing it couldn’t possibly be another… could it?

“It’s Hayden.” Shane said.

“Tell him we are very busy and come back later.” Ilya said from down the hall.

Shane sighed and opened the door and Hayden stepped inside.

“That was a clusterfuck.” Hayden muttered.

“The meeting.” Shane said, not really a question.

“Yeah.” Hayden said. From down the hall a muttered comment was audible.

“Is the Red Menace back?” Hayden asked.

“Don’t call him that.” Shane said.

“It’s nicer than anything else I’ve got.” Hayden said darkly as they headed into the living room. A moment later Ilya wandered in, looking clearly freshly fucked.

“Did you finally watch full sex tape and have come to see if my dick is really that big Pike?” Rozanov asked.

“Really?” Hayden said looking at Shane, “Him? Can’t we at least check if Scott Hunter is interested?”

“What about Scott Hunter?” Ilya asked.

“Okay let’s change the-“ Shane began.

“I’m just trying to find Shane some options if he’s going to date another hockey player.” Hayden said, “because apparently Shane has some standards when it comes to men, even if they’re weird ones.”

“Hayden-“ Shane said.

“Yes. Shane likes best hockey player on winning team. What does that have to do with Hunter? He’s 1000 years old, and can barely make it to playoffs.”

“He’s only 33!” Hayden said.

“He is fossil. Much more boring than Hollander and can barely hold a stick. Very sad.”

Shane just signed and sat back on his couch. He was desperate for a shower and wanted to hear Hayden’s news and now Ilya was getting wound up on his Scott Hunter diatribe. And things were going so well ten minutes before.

“He’s an All Star!” Hayden said.

“Because there are one billion New Yorkers who vote for him.” Ilya said with an eye roll. “And know nothing about hockey besides Hunters pretty face.”

“So you admit he’s hot!” Hayden said.

“Yes, Hunter is very good looking old man who can not play hockey.” Ilya said.

“Besides he’s straight.” Shane said, interrupting them.

“Wait are you blind Hollander?” Ilya said looking at him.

“What do you mean?” Shane asked.

“Old man Hunter is not straight. No straight man looks at Carmichael like that.”

“Bostons Carmichael?” Hayden asked.

“Yes of course.” Ilya said. “He looks at Shane same way.” Ilya pursed his lips. “Not me, he looks at me and is annoyed.”

“That’s because you’re annoying.” Hayden said. “You think Scott Hunter is gay.”

“Mmm maybe.” Ilya said. “But definitely into Shane and Carmichael. So he has good taste at least. Probably likes dark hair and pretty face, but need more-“ he looked at Shane. “Need to see more of who he’s attracted to.”

“Data points?” Shane said.

“Yes! Data points.” Ilya said with a smile.

“That’s insane.” Hayden said.

“Is true.” Ilya said with a shrug.

“Well he’s not married.” Hayden said after a moment. “So maybe.”

“Probably has pretty young thing at home.” Ilya said. “He is the type.”

“How do you know all this?” Shane asked.

“Is a gift.” Ilya said with a shrug.

“What else do you know?” Hayden asked.

Ilya thought for a moment, then smiled. “At NHL awards, I met Comeau’s wife. She is not faithful. Probably sleeping with Gagnon. I am not sure if Comeau knows. Possibly wife swapping. Probably cheating.”

“Gil?” Shane said, horrified, “I was at their wedding!”

“That is nothing. In LA, definitely wife swapping there.” Ilya said.

“This can’t be real.” Hayden said.

“Is true.” Ilya said with a shrug.

“How do you know this?” Hayden asked.

“I see.” Ilya said with a shrug. “You look at ice, and see players going shoosh whoosh, very confusing to you. Hollander sees players and knows where they’ll be before they do. Can be where they are not. Very impressive. But I see who they are. Who they like. Who they hate. Is why I am good at chirping. Can get under skin.”

“You can definitely piss people off.”

“Yes, as I said, is a gift.” Ilya said with another smirk.

Shane thought back to first meeting Ilya. It explained Rozanov’s certainty. He wondered when Ilya first knew he was interested. He wondered when he was first interested. He didn’t say anything.

“So why are you here?” Ilya asked. “Is not just to set Shane up with old man Hunter I hope?”

“Oh. Right. No.” Hayden said, his grin fading away.

“The team meeting.” Shane said.

“The guys are divided.” Hayden said. “Not in a good way. Some, Comeau, Drapeau, Laine, and Berkes are just straight up homophobes. Like, openly.”

“Not a surprise, except maybe Comeau.” Shane said. “He’s never said anything that seemed particularly homophobic.”

“Comeau hates you.” Ilya said. “Not that you’re gay. Has always. Maybe jealous. Maybe personal. Not sure.”

“Really?” Hayden said.

“Yes. Very obvious. The way he watches Shane. Very clear.”

“Stedlund, Wilson, and Beaulieu are pissed about the Boston part of it. Especially Stedlund.”

“Yes, Montreal and Boston. That is a lot of hate.” Ilya said. “Fun to play.”

“Not helpful.” Shane said to him, “who’s on my side?”

“Mitty.” Hayden said. “Gagnon too. Me obviously.”

“Not JJ?” Shane said, feeling more hurt than by all the other betrayals.

“I don’t know. He didn’t say anything.” Hayden said. “And he avoided my eyes for the most part. I don’t think he wants you gone, but I think he’s feeling some way.”

“Oh.” Shane said. Feeling… something. Unmoored almost. He had known there would be a few, like Drapeau, who would not be cool with it. But he had thought he had earned his place. Earned some loyalty at least in the last three years.

“Andropov doesn’t think it matters anyway.” Hayden continued.

“Andropov is ancient.” Ilya muttered. “Older than Hunter. Maybe older than dinosaurs. Should have retired years ago.”

“Maybe.” Hayden said, ‘but he has a point. He said the decision will be made by management, he thinks maybe they’ve already made it because of what they said.”

“What did they say?” Shane asked.

“Officially nothing, they’re still deciding. But Theriault and Goodwin talked about ‘organizational cohesion’, and sort of the way they said it-“.

“They want me out.” Shane said, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath before opening them again. Ilya hesitantly put his hand over Shane’s and left it there.

“Andropov thinks so.” Hayden said with a nod, “and I think he might be right.”

“And I don’t have a no trade clause.” Shane said, “so they can send me anywhere, but they’re on the hook for my full signing bonus immediately if they do.”

“Well that’s not nothing.” Hayden said.

“No, but I thought I’d retire from Montreal someday. After a few Cups hopefully.” Shane said, so glad for the warm grip of Rozanov’s hand on his.

“Maybe it’ll be somewhere better.” Hayden said. “I mean, anyone who takes the trade is going to be more supportive right?”

“Yeah.” Shane said. “If anyone is interested.”

Ilya made a dismissive noise, “you are being very stupid Hollander. You play great hockey. Everyone knows this. Many teams will be interested.”

“Should we tell your mom?” Hayden asked.

“Yeah.” Shane nodded. “Maybe give my agent a heads up too.”

Shane got up and went to the kitchen for his phone. He had almost a hundred missed calls, mostly numbers not saved in his phone. He ignored them, and ignored the endless texts and called his mom. Behind him he could hear Hayden and Rozanov talking.

It was hearing his mom’s voice when she answered that finally broke through the numbness he was feeling, and his voice broke as he said, “They’re going to trade me.”

“Then we’ll need to be ready for that.” Yuna Hollander said fiercely as tears made their way down Shane’s face. “Now tell me everything.”

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