Chapter Text
Eight years and six months ago, Ilya Rozanov-Hollander filed for divorce, convinced that his love story with Shane Hollander had come to an end. A few weeks later, he was simply Ilya Rozanov, and Shane had been blocked on his cell phone after repeatedly trying to contact Ilya, even though Ilya had made it crystal clear that he wanted to be left alone.
Eight years ago, Shane packed his things, threw his bags in the car, and left Ottawa without telling anyone, with no way to contact him. He simply disappeared.
For the past six years, Ilya has been able to breathe again without feeling that tightness in his chest every time he sees the world keep turning. He enjoys hockey just as much as he did the first time he set foot on one of Moscow’s rinks; he talks with his teammates, wins the Stanley Cup once more, and decides it’s time to retire. He takes his final laps around the rink, greets his fans, and says goodbye with tears in his eyes, thanking them for his career and for all the support they’ve given him.
The whole world adores him. Ottawa has become his home.
Four years ago, Ilya received a letter with Shane’s name on the envelope and no return address. The letter ended up in the trash without Ilya giving it anything more than a resigned glance.
After that, silence. Ilya has more friends than he ever imagined; Svetlana and Cliff are constantly in his life, and his team—Evan, Zane, Luca, Troy, and Wyatt—remains like a family. Although he no longer skates the ice and wins trophies, hockey hasn’t completely left his life. He’s invited to serve as a commentator for some games; more than once, he’s been interviewed to share his thoughts on the MHL, on how the organization is run, on the people. Documentaries are made about the team that was once nothing, about the people who led it to glory. Ilya finds peace amid the chaos that life in retirement surprisingly brings him. He’s fine.
Until nothing is.
A year and six months ago, after thinking it over for five minutes, Ilya agreed to become the new coach of the Ottawa Centaurs. And for those who were interested and involved enough, rumors of major changes began to circulate.
Eight months ago, on a forum deep in the internet, someone posted a photo of Shane Hollander for the first time since his divorce was announced.
Three weeks ago, the name [Hollander, S.] officially appeared in one of the many reports the MHL issues internally.
And two hours ago, a new photo was uploaded to the Montreal Voyageurs’ official account, welcoming back their former captain. Two hours ago, Shane Hollander officially became the new coach of the team that was once his home.
“Are you serious?” Shane doesn’t know what to do other than stare at the papers Ilya has left on the table. It all seems so unreal to him; it all feels like a nightmare that has somehow seeped into real life. “Ilya… I don’t understand what’s going on. Why—?” He can’t finish the question, because there are no words that can express how he feels in that moment.
“Don’t make this harder than it is, Hollander. You know full well why I’m doing this.” Ilya says his name coldly, in the same tone from all those years ago when they’d first started meeting in secluded alleys and hotel rooms where no one could see them.
“I really don’t get it. But if you tell me, we can work on it… I can improve. Can I be less boring? Stop getting so annoyed when you leave your socks on the bathroom floor?” Shane tries to figure out the problem, because he wants to fix it, because he doesn’t know what else to do about something he doesn’t understand why it’s happening. Shane knows that he often doesn’t fully understand what’s going on around him; he knows perfectly well that he isn’t the best at picking up on social cues, that he doesn’t realize when he’s being too—intense, annoying, boring—but he can fix it; he can be better. The Canadian thought that after so many years of being so many things—rivals, lovers, friends, spouses—they had already found a way to talk, to communicate the things that bothered them, to be honest with each other.
“You keep trying to make me look like a fool when I already know everything.” That’s what Ilya says before turning on his heel to go upstairs and lock himself in the master bedroom without giving him another chance.
HNS News ✓ | @HockeyNews
Breaking news! It has been confirmed that Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov signed their divorce papers this afternoon. This brings to an end a relationship of more than ten years that everyone believed would last forever. Neither party has wished to comment on the reasons behind their decision to go their separate ways. For their part, both players have asked, through their managers, that their privacy be respected and that they be given time to process this emotional moment.
↪Hollanov’s Daughter | @Hollanovbaby
Nooooo, what????? WHAT IS GOING ON? I DON’T UNDERSTAND.
↪ Hollanov’s Daughter | @Hollanovbaby
Please tell me it’s a lie.