Chapter Text
Connors bit the tip of his tongue while balancing his phone precariously in his locker. Side stepping quickly, he could see that his Captain would be right in frame for their little surprise.
"Hey Captain!" Marlow called out, sing-song tone sweet and giggly. "We have a small surprise!"
Ilya looked up from his phone and squinted at his players. The usual face of what the fuck.
"Yes?"
Carmichael produced the first pair of socks.
"You know, just in case you needed a new set!" Mick said cheerily, shoving the pair into the Captains lap and moving out of grabbing distance.
Marlow was next in line, dropping a decorative pair in the mans lap. These ones had the Bears logo on them.
"What the fuck is this?" Ilya asked, confused and contemplating if his team got a collective concussion last game. "Did you hit heads?"
Connors all but skipped over to give his pair of socks over, these ones had little ducks on them and were sky blue.
Eventually the whole Bears roster had handed over a different pair to the Captain who looked more and more like he was wanting to quit and go home.
"There is something wrong with each of you." He said, accent thick.
Connors grabbed his phone and made for his escape to the carpark. Not wanting to risk Ilya deciding his new sets of socks were handy missiles.
Ilya however sat confused, now piled under multiple sets of socks, phone in hand.
He pulled up his texts with Shane, unable to stop the soft smile pulling at his lips.
Lily: something is wrong with my team
Jane: huh??
Lily: they all bought me socks??
Jane: eh?
Lily: socks Hollander, like the ones you wrongfully executed
Jane: you mean rightfully disposed of
Lily: ☹️
Jane: they were disgusting Ilya
Jane: but when you say they ALL bought you socks?
Lily: I mean look
- Lily Has Sent One Image Attachment -
Jane: ...jesus
Lily: very confused
Jane: yeah, so strange
Jane: sorry brb
Lily: will call me when you get home yes?
Jane: of course xx
Lily: xx
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Marlow felt like he was either going to be violently sick or pass out.
Jane was Shane.
Shane had been Jane the whole time.
When Jane had 'broken' her phone and been off-line, it was actually Shane recovering from his injury.
The one Marlow fucking caused.
Fuck.
His phone buzzed insistently from the chat. He wanted to reassure Shane, nothing was the matter with this.
He just couldn't get the feeling of colliding with the man out of his head.
He could've permanently injured him.
His phone buzzed again, but not from a text, but an incoming call.
- Jane -
Oh fuck him. Fuck the whole thing.
Against his better judgement, Marlow answered.
"Hello?" Marlow felt his voice crack as he spoke.
"Vincent said you'd be freaking out." Shane fucking Hollanders voice carried through the phone, soft and unsure. "Are you?"
"Kinda."
"But why?"
Was he playing dumb or just unaware why Marlow felt like he needed to headbutt a wall.
"Because I could've broken your back Hollander." Marlow croaked, "or worse."
"Hey," Shane interjected softly, "that didn't happen."
Marlow wanted to scream, "but what if it did? And I seriously hurt the one person my friend seriously loves. I hurt you."
A huff came through the phone and Marlow could hear Shane moving around.
"Hollander?"
"Answer me honestly here, did you skate into me with full intention of making me eat shit?"
"Fuck no!" Marlow yelped.
"There you go then." Shane said back, again in this soft tone. "No harm done."
"I broke your collarbone." Marlow whispered, "I felt awful enough when I heard but now knowing everything, I just can't help but think you should hate me. Why don't you hate me?"
Shane let him finish his ramble before sighing, "inherently, its dangerous to play hockey. Everyone gets whacked around eventually."
"But I-"
"Cliff Marlow, shut the fuck up."
Marlow couldn't help but snap his mouth closed.
"I don't hate you, I was terrified you'd hate me." Shane admitted, nibbling on his lip, "but assuming that you don't-"
"Fuck no."
"My point stands then, don't let this eat at you alright? Ilya will tell me if you do, then I'll have to get him to give you a lecture and that's a horrid punishment aye?"
Marlow laughed weakly, to hell with it all, Shane really did sound like a Mom.
"Thank you."
"Anytime Marlow. Now go shower, you probably smell."
"Oi!"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Hey captain!" Vincent called out, "phones ringing."
Ilya turned from his conversations with Mick to shuffle over.
The smile that the captain out on told everyone around him who was calling.
"Put him on speaker!" Connors called out as Ilya went to answer the phone.
A collective agreement sung out as Ilya waved at them. There was this giddy feeling in his chest, that his team would accept this so openly.
He could love Shane this openly.
Ilya put the phone on speaker and immediately regretted his life's choices.
"Ilya Grigoryevich Rozanov." A very annoyed sounding Shane came through the speaker, "what the literal hell!"
The locker room went silent and Ilya thought he might have a stroke.
Full government name.
Ilya checked the insistently buzzing chat because obviously something had gone wrong.
Fucking Hayden Pike and his stupid ass.
"Listen, I can explain." Ilya laughed nervously, watching as his team shuffled closer in curiosity, despite him going to wave them off. "I was going to tell you."
"Tell me! Tell me you had the same chat with my own team!" Shane huffed out. "You just about burst a blood vessel when you saw mine!"
The locker room was suddenly very very loud again. His team protesting at the harsh sit ups they had to do in apologies for stealing the number.
"What the fuck Cap!" Mick yelled out in betrayal "my legs were dead after that!"
Ilya laughed and turned back to his phone, taking it off speaker.
"Promise was going to tell you," Ilya said in this gentle tone which had the room settling to listen.
"Mmhm, sure thing." Shane muttered, but not sounding half as annoyed as before. "You're gonna have to make it up to me."
"Whatever you want." Ilya responded.
"Risky promise Rozanov." Shane laughed. "But first, I need to find my rogue team."
"Huh?"
"They took off running, as if I can't see them booking it to Mitty's car- JJ get your fucking ass back here!"
Ilya had to laugh, the yelling from Shane was so relaxed and settled. It eased a knot in his chest.
"I see you soon yes?" Ilya whispered softly.
Shane paused his tangent, "yeah, I'll see you in about an hour."
Ilya didnt cate his whole team nearly took him to the floor in a group pile and teasing.
The smile wouldn't budge.
He had his home.