Tag: Fandom: Heated Rivalry

back and forth from new york, by alphalupi

“Can you waive your no trade?” she asked, her voice gentle and her arms wrapped around him like she could hold him together by sheer force of will; she was doing a pretty good job of it, honestly.

Shane paused and thought back to that moment in the locker room where it’d started to feel like retiring as a Voyageur was no longer in the cards, thought about how he’d always assumed that would feel like heartbreak. But now he knew what heartbreak felt like, he knew that there was more to life than hockey even if hockey was so much of what made him him. He didn’t want to give it up, that was for damn sure, but he might just be able to stomach giving up Montreal.

Source: back and forth from new york – Chapter 1, by alphalupi – Game Changers Series – Rachel Reid [Archive of Our Own]

Teen, canon-divergence. What if Shane had left the Voyageurs much earlier and ended up in New York with (a still-closeted) Scott Hunter? I love fics where Shane ends up with a much more supportive team and people who see how awesome he is. This is an epically long, incredibly enjoyable version, even if the last two chapters are still missing.

I’m Reading Your Lips (You’re Speaking My Language), by some1_around

Rozanov cocked his head. “You speak Russian? Or just the curse words?”

“Yes, I speak Russian,” he snapped, defensive and angry. He knew that it had been a mistake to even try to be friendly with Rozanov. “Why? Do I not look Russian to you?” He scoffed.

“No, not really,” Rozanov said. Some of his teammates laughed, although they mostly looked surprised that Shane was speaking to them at all. Rozanov didn’t laugh, though. “Are you Russian?”

“Go fuck yourself.”

Source: I’m Reading Your Lips (You’re Speaking My Language) – Chapter 1, by some1_around – Game Changers Series – Rachel Reid [Archive of Our Own]

Mature, canon-divergence. How would their relationship have changed if Shane was already speaking Russian when he met Ilya? This is such a great concept!

Never Tell Me The Odds, by KatHowardApologist

“You two, if one of you doesn’t explain what the fuck is going on. Maybe explain when our C and A became fucking traitors” 

“What the fuck are you on about now, Drapeau?” Hayden immediately snapped. Before the goalie shoved his phone into Hayden’s hands, Shane could already distantly feel the floor begin to tilt underneath him and the roar of an ocean swirling inside his head. He didn’t really understand what was happening yet, but somehow his body was filled with dread. 

He looked over at the phone, momentarily confused. It was a video of Hayden doing one of his fanmail videos, then in the background, he could see the real reason they were watching the video. He saw himself and the love of his life kissing, clear as day in the reflection. He was so completely fucked.

Source: Never Tell Me The Odds – Chapter 1, by KatHowardApologist – Game Changers Series – Rachel Reid [Archive of Our Own]

Mature, canon-divergence. The fanmail video isn’t leaked to the public but only to the Metros, forcing Shane to depart much earlier. It’s still painful, but being in Ottawa with Ilya makes everything much less traumatic…

Play Hard, by Hartzy – Game Changers Series – Rachel Reid [Archive of Our Own]

Ilya had been in a lot of fights. He’d racked up penalties and put his fist where his mouth often was. But the way he’d lost control was terrifying. It was like he’d stepped out of himself and become…

Ilya paled, and pushed the thought away.

He had started the day in the wrong mindset—thinking Shane needed protection, assuming Ilya knew better than his coach, letting the Montreal players dig under his skin in a way he hardly let anyone do. It all snowballed from there. 

Now his team was out there, trying to clean up Ilya’s mess. 

Source: Play Hard – Chapter 1, by Hartzy – Game Changers Series – Rachel Reid [Archive of Our Own]

Adult, post-canon. This is an amazing Ilya POV – not only seeing how much he loves Shane, how he fights for him, but also how much Shane does the same for him when his mind goes to dark places. Absolutely exquisite, this made me melt so many times.

Baby’s First Fight (How’s That For Boring), by SageGreenSadness – Heated Rivalry (TV) [Archive of Our Own]

“You were defending my honour, Hollander?”

There’s warmth laced in the words, and Shane can’t help but laugh ever so slightly, but he catches something serious in Ilya’s expression.

“Can I tell you something?”

Shane nods, hoping he’s finally going to get some sort of explanation for Ilya’s bizarre behaviour. For a second, he worries that he might be mad, although it would be ironic for Ilya to lecture anyone on reckless behaviour since he’s been its number one proponent since birth.

“It was so hot.”

Source: Baby’s First Fight (How’s That For Boring), by SageGreenSadness – Heated Rivalry (TV) [Archive of Our Own]

Adult, post-canon, soft D/s. Shane going feral to defend Ilya leads to a delicious, delicious switch in their power dynamics… Love this!

to have & to holler, by badmetaphors

Two years of playing together, and it still hit him every time. The casualness of it. My husband. Said out loud, in public. After years of hiding—stolen moments in hotel rooms, careful distance in public, the constant exhausting performance of just teammates, just rivals, nothing to see here—now Ilya could say it like it was nothing. Like it was easy, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Because it was. Finally.

Source: to have & to holler, by badmetaphors – Game Changers Series – Rachel Reid [Archive of Our Own]

All, post-canon. Ilya can’t shut about how amazing his husband is. Shane feels the same. These two are just so gone for each other, and it’s adorable and heart-warming.