Chapter Text
Setting the scene: Ilya’s been hurt in a game and has a head injury and…. Yep, of course, amnesia. Last thing he remembers is tuna meltdown. Shane decides he’ll tell him their story. Yuna hears this and mentions never having heard their whole story herself. So Ilya decides why not tell the story from the start for Yuna and to make sure he remembers what he thinks he does correctly. This is not a serious fic (this is fun and fluff), so we are not focused on Ilya’s injury, it is just the set up for them to tell their story. Shane has told him they are married, and Ilya happily accepted this fact. For this he is still in the hospital, but let’s say he’s not in any pain. Both he and Shane are sitting on the bed and Yuna is in a chair beside the bed. Please let your imagination run wild to fill in every detail not written!
Ilya: Can I tell story until I don’t remember. That way you can tell me if I don’t remember something right.
Shane: Sure, you can start with what you remember.
Ilya: *nodding his head* Perfect. I will be good at this!
Shane: I’m already regretting this.
Ilya: No, Shane. You will see.
Yuna: I have no doubt you will do great telling the story.
Ilya: Thank you. Now, we were 17 in Regina and I was trying to smoke. Minding my own business when Shane decided he couldn’t wait any longer to meet me because he had been obsessed with me.
Shane: That’s not -
Ilya: Hush, it is my turn.
Shane: I’m meant to speak up if you’re remembering wrong.
Ilya: Yes, but I am not remembering wrong. You just couldn’t wait to meet best hockey player you’d ever seen. Am I still the best hockey player in the league?
Shane: You’ve never been the best player, that would be me.
Ilya: No, is not true Hollander. You are not meant to tell me lies with my condition. I am the best, you are 2nd best player. This is how I remember it.
Shane: Well I remember it the other way, and I’m the one with a healthy brain.
Yuna: Boys, you are both great players. Let’s leave it at that or I’m afraid we’ll never move on in the story.
Shane: Sorry mom.
Ilya: Fine. *starts doing a bad impression of Shane* I’m Shane Hollander. You are a great player to watch. You are so much better at hockey than me, can you teach me how to not have such a weak back hand?
Shane: I didn’t say that.
Ilya: *shrugs* Close enough to truth.
Shane: I should have never agreed to this.
Yuna: *laughing* Oh, come on Shane. You know I don’t believe you said that.
Ilya: Are you saying I lie?
Yuna: I’m saying you’re embellishing. But it’s okay. I’m rather enjoying your version.
Shane: *Shaking his head* Everyone is against me. I said you were a great player to watch, and you told me you’d beat me in the final.
Ilya: And I did.
Shane: Not the point.
Ilya: Is important point that I won first game between us. Very important fact. Also important fact from that first conversation is that that is when I first noticed your freckles. Probably most important fact from our time in Regina.
Shane: Whatever.
Ilya: *smiling* Next, I saw you at the draft. We were number 1 & 2. Me of course being number 1.
Shane: Even with a brain injury you’re still an asshole.
Ilya: Is what I said untrue?
Shane: No.
Ilya: Exactly. So, we get drafted. I’m sure you were very happy to go to Montreal. Your mama probably very happy for you. But me, my papa is still not proud of me. Tells my coach I’m lazy.
Shane: You never told me that.
Yuna: Ilya, I’m so sorry.
Ilya: Is okay. I was used to it. But I remember looking over at Shane when Papa was talking to my coach. He was with you and -
Yuna: David.
Ilya: Yes, Shane’s Papa. I wondered about the boy who spoke to me those months ago and then stood next to me for photos that day. What his parents were saying about him in conversations with his new coach. I remember wishing I could walk away and come talk to you again. Anything to get away from talks with my father.
Shane: You could have.
Ilya: No, I could not have. Would not have been good.
Yuna: Ilya, did Shane already tell you…
Ilya: That he died? Yes. Shane told me this. Maybe I should be more upset?
Shane: It’s okay if you're not. Your relationship with him was complicated.
Ilya: Yes. Complicated. But Shane tells me I have a good relationship with David yes?
Yuna: Yes! David loves you. We both do! You’re just as much our son now as Shane is.
Ilya: Thank you. I am sorry I don’t remember you.
Yuna: It’s okay, you’re hurt. It’s not your fault. I believe you’ll get it all back in time.
Ilya: I hope so.
Shane: Maybe me telling you the parts of the story after what you don’t remember will help.
Yuna: Yes, if we ever get to that point.
Ilya: Are you saying I am a slow story teller? Fine. Night of the draft. I cannot sleep. And apparently Shane cannot either because when I walk into the gym Shane is already there on the treadmill.
Shane: And out of all the other pieces of equipment in the gym, including 3 other treadmills, guess what Ilya gets on?
Yuna: Is it the treadmill next to you?
Ilya: Of course I pick that one! Cannot let my rival have an easy workout. I had to make sure he knew I was worthy opponent.
Shane: By trying to kill me by making the treadmill go faster and faster?
Ilya: I did not make you match my speed. You did that on your own. I just happen to always up my speed after you upped yours.
Yuna: Have you two ever not turned something into a competition?
Ilya & Shane: No
Ilya: After I won competition on treadmills -
Shane: It wasn’t a competition.
Ilya: You stopped your treadmill first, so I won.
Shane: *rolls his eyes*
Ilya: We are sitting on the floor of the gym and we talk about the day and about Montreal and Boston. I was smart and brought water with me to the gym. Shane did not, so I insist he takes a drink from mine.
Shane: And?
Ilya: And what?
Shane: What did you do when you handed me the bottle?
Ilya: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Shane: Ilya.
Ilya: Fine, I may have made sure my fingers lingered against yours when I handed you the bottle.
Shane: May have?
Ilya: This is sounding very accusatory Shane. Did you not like the way I handed you my water bottle?
Shane: You knew what you were doing.
Ilya: Yes. I was mesmerized by your freckles, I just had to touch you.
Shane: That was it you know? The moment we started feeling something… more. You even told Hayden that.
Ilya: Hayden? Hayden Pike? Why would I tell him this?
Shane: Because we’re friends.
Ilya: I am friends with Hayden Pike?
Shane: Yeah. Although, I’m not sure you’ll ever admit it.
Ilya: If you say so Hollander. I am not sure I believe you.
Shane: Would it help if I told you he would never admit to being your friend either.
Ilya: Yes, I think so.
Yuna: *sounding almost choked up* So your hands touched and everything changed. That’s so sweet.
Shane: Mom, it wasn’t like that.
Ilya: It was very much like that. I touched Shane’s hand and he fell hopelessly in love with me.
Shane: Shut. Up. Can you be serious?
Ilya: Is you being in love with me not serious? I wake up with a ring on my finger, and you tell me we are married. But when I say you love me it’s not serious?
Shane: I do love you. More than anything, but you know we didn’t leave that gym thinking we were in love.
Ilya: Fine. But I also don’t think you want me to tell your mama what we were thinking when we left the gym.
Shane: Ilya!
Ilya: What? I did not say anything!
Shane: *Shaking his head* Just move on, next is when Canada beats Russia at World Juniors. That should definitely be talked about.
Ilya: Yes, that happened. No need to say anything more on it.
Shane: I disagree.
Ilya: Too bad you are not telling this part of the story. Next, I come up with perfect plan to see Shane and his freckles again. I get CCM to add him to the ad campaign.
Yuna: Wait, it was your idea to get Shane added to that? They never told me that.
Ilya: Da. Was my idea. You were at the shoot, so you know what happened there. But what you don’t know is after in the showers-
Shane: Ilya.
Ilya: where we were showering fully clothed-
Shane: What?
Ilya: *turning fully towards Shane* Is your mama, I keep it appropriate for your mama.
Shane: By telling her we shower fully clothed?
Ilya: *turning back around* Da. So, fully clothed in the shower. Not naked. Shane starts to seduce me.
Shane: You are the most unreliable narrator.
Ilya: Stop interrupting me.
Shane: How did I seduce you while fully clothed in the shower?
Ilya: If you ask too many questions my fully appropriate story we are telling will start to sound fake Hollander. Do not ask these questions.
Yuna: You know I don’t actually believe the part about you both showering in your clothes right?
Ilya: No, is true. We were very much not inappropriate in the showers Yuna.
Yuan: *not convinced* Okay. Maybe you could just skip any parts you don’t think I should hear instead?
Ilya: Would be very hard to tell this story without all those parts. Don’t worry, I will edit.
Shane: Why are we doing this again?
Ilya: So, after the shower, in the locker room I ask Shane for his room number.
Yuna: Um-
Ilya: So I can come over to watch a movie.
Shane: This is getting ridiculous.
Ilya: I told you, I edit.
Yuna: *skeptical* A movie? Got it.
Ilya: Yes. I went to his room that night and we watched a movie. Was a great movie.
Yuna: That’s all you need to say about the movie. I got it.
Shane: *sarcastically* Great job editing.
Ilya: Thank you. I told you I’d be good at this.