The Quiet Game – Chapter Three – Duochanfan

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Chapter Three

Shane gritted his teeth as he walked off the plane in Montreal. Throughout the flight, Theriualt was constantly making snide remarks about him. Therialt believed that Shane couldn’t ever hear him, that he relied only on lip reading. Breakfast had been a dressing down as though Shane hadn’t scored twice and assisted on a third. Shane was sick of it; any fault that Therialt could think of was laid at his feet. Like always. Trying to find something that would give the man a reason to either bench him or get rid of him. It had been the same thing for a good two years now, since Boston won the cup. Even though Shane had led them to two, he still didn’t like Shane. The man was racist and ableist toward him almost constantly. Not that anyone else understood it but Hayden.

Hayden moved to walk with Shane as they left the airport. Jackie was picking the two of them up and dropping Shane off at home, unless Hayden and Jackie could convince him to join them. The two were quiet as the rest of the team departed, some catching rides with others, some having parked their cars in long-term parking. Hayden smiled as he saw his wife already waiting for him.

He went over, kissing her softly. “Hey,” he said.

“Welcome home,” she said, wrapping her arms around him and holding him as tightly as he held her. 

“Missed you and the kids,” he told her, as he kissed her again before letting her go.

Shane smiled at the two of them, “Just drop me off at home, and you two should be able to spend some time together.”

“It’s fine, my brother is home waiting with the kids,” Jackie said, “No doubt they’ll be happy to say hello to Uncle Shane,” she added.

Shane hesitated and then nodded, “Sure, okay, you don’t mind me going without for a while?” he said, gesturing toward his head.

“You know that’s fine,” Jackie told him, “get some rest in the car,” she added, seeing that there were little stress lines around his eyes.

Shane nodded as he and Hayden stored their gear in the trunk. Shane got in the back, taking off his hearing aids and tucking them away in their case. He couldn’t help the small smile at the silence. After having them in for a good number of hours, it felt nice not to have them in at all.

Jackie and Hayden shared a look but didn’t say anything as they let Shane rest in the back. Soon enough, before they had fully left the airport parking lot, they could hear little snores coming from him.

“He looked stressed,” Jackie said as she glanced at Hayden.

Hayden nodded. “Theriualt’s really got it out for him at the moment. He’s a fucking bag of dicks, and Shane has no choice but to put up with it. No one on the team but me knows that he’s deaf. Theriualt thinks that he doesn’t use hearing aids at all. Keeps himself turned from Shane while making digs and fucking comments about his race, hearing, and anything else that fucker can think of.”

“That’s still going on? I thought Shane was putting in a complaint to management about it,” she frowned.

“He did, they’ve done fuck all, told him to shut up about it and keep his head down or they’d find a way to get rid of him. Shane is… I think he might be starting to think about another team. He’s up for resigning his contract this year. Shane will have played his seventh season with an NHL team,” he added, “So he’ll be UFA. I think he’s going to use it to go somewhere else.”

“You have an idea where, don’t you?” Jackie sighed, knowing that he husband would love to follow Shane to wherever he ends up.

Hayden nodded, “I think I do, with the way he was when he came back this morning to the hotel. Something’s changed, and it’s something good, I think.”

Jackie nodded, “We’ll see what we can do. I know you won’t want to be that far from him, so start looking at teams near where you think, and start reaching out. You’re in negotiations with Montreal at the moment to take a new contract next year. If that’s not what you want, start looking.”

“I’ll confirm with Shane first, make sure I’m thinking right. If so, a lot of heads are going to explode,” he said.

“Okay, do that, you can talk with him at home. I’ll keep the kids occupied,” she smiled as she glanced over at him for a second before paying attention to the road again.

Hayden nodded, “Alright, though I think we could both do with a nap. I don’t know how much sleep he got, but Comeau was a dick last night, kept banging on the door trying to get me and Shane to go out. And when he got back, he did the same. Got a noise complaint that was blamed on Shane,” he rolled his eyes.

Jackie snorted, “Shane, noisy.”

“Exactly,” Hayden said, yawning. “Shane did say he wanted to tell me something after the game. But he went out instead,” he smiled, remembering the blushing and happiness that was radiated from his best friend.

“Alright, well, you get the chance when we get home. I’ve got some things in for him to eat, to try instead of the usual bird food, as you call it. I’ve been looking at the diet he’s on, and I really don’t think it’s a good one.”

“Doubt it is,” Hayden said, “Shane doesn’t say anything against it, but I can tell he hates it.”

Jackie nodded as the two went quiet on th rest of the drive home. Jackie pulled into the driveway of their home. A gated community with only a few houses within. Jackie and Hayden had a few problems with stalkers, mostly those who were very much in favour of Hayden and Shane being together. In the end, Shane had helped them find a secure place after Jackie was confronted by two stalker fans while she had the twins with her.

“You get the things in, and I’ll wake Shane,” Jackie said softly as she got out.

Hayden nodded, “I’ll leave Shane’s in there. I’ll drive him home later,” he added as he began to get his things to take inside.

Jackie went around to the passenger side, gently opening the door and tapping Shane on the shoulder. Shane was slow to wake. He opened his eyes and looked at her. Nodding. ‘Come on, Shane, let’s go inside. Mark is here; he’s with the kids. But Hayden said that you told him that you wanted to talk to him about something. So Mark and I are going to keep the kids occupied after they’ve said their hellos.’ She signed, as she then moved back so he could get out of the car. 

‘Thanks, and I do, but I want to tell you as well.’ Shane said, grabbing his phone and messaging Ilya. They had talked a little more about saying something when he had gone back. And messaging each other while at the airport. They had agreed that it would be a good idea to have at least one other person who knew about them. Shane had chosen to tell Jackie and Hayden. While Ilya was planning on telling Marlow and Svetlana about the two of them.

‘Alright,’ she nodded as she led the way inside, as Hayden brought the last of his gear inside. Already knowing to put it in the laundry room and not just leaving it near the door. ‘I’ll tell Mark that we’re home, but I’m going to ask him to keep the kids away a bit longer, if you want?’ she asked Shane.

‘No, I’ll say hi to the kids, let’s play a little. I had a bit of a nap, so I’m good.’ He told her, wanting to see the kids for a bit. He knew he would get to see them later. But he enjoyed spending time with them and babysitting when Jackie and Hayden finally got the chance to have a date night.

‘Alright,’ she nodded as she called out for the kids. “Uncle Shane and Daddy are home!” she smiled, already hearing her twins shouting and yelling for their dad and Uncle Shane. Arthur was quieter as he came in. Mark followed behind them. Jackie was currently three months pregnant with their fourth child, not really showing yet, but already craving a few things. Hayden and Jackie were a little worried, considering Jackie had postpartum with Arthur. Mark had already told his sister that he’d be around and stay close, just in case.

“Daddy!” Ruby yelled as she was the first to reach her dad.

“Missed you!” Jade screamed out.

“Missed you both as well,” Hayden said as he knelt and hugged his daughters for a few moments. Arthur went straight to Shane, arms up and making a grabby motion with his hands.

Shane smiled and picked him up. ‘Hi.’ He signed, keeping it simple for the one-year-old. He had learned a few easy signs. Enough to get what he wanted across.

Arthur smiled and just cuddled close, closing his eyes.

“He hasn’t had a nap yet,” Mark said, looking directly at Shane, knowing that the man was deaf. 

Shane nodded. “Thank you,” he said.

‘Uncle Shane. Missed you.’ Jade signed as she let her dad go and went over.

‘Missed you too,’ Shane replied, moving Arthur a little so he could sign back to her.

Shane handed Arthur to his dad as he put his aids back on. Soon enough, they were in the backyard, the kids running around. Though Arthur tended to be a lot quieter than his sisters, he often clung to one of the adults.

XxXxX

After dinner, Mark was able to get the kids to the playroom to let Shane, Hayden, and Jackie talk. Shane had made the decision to keep his hearing aid on for this. He wanted to hear them, especially as he was going to tell them about Ilya. Shane was nervous as they went into the living room. Jackie had made them all something hot to drink. Though Shane believed that something a bit stronger would have been a good choice.

“So,” Hayden said, “I know something good happened while we were in Boston,” he told him.

Shane smiled softly. “Yeah,” he said, looking at him, “Something good did happen,” he told them both, “Something really good.”

“Are you going to tell us?” Jackie asked as she moved to lean against Hayden on the couch.

“Lily… we’re going steady. We love each other. We’ve tried for so long to pretend that we were just casual. You know,” he said, wrapping his hands tightly around his mug. “Denied it, all the time. Ran away from each other when it got that little bit too real. But in Boston. We were together, and they said my name, just my first name. We’d always used last names until then. Always. Called me Shane, and I said theirs too, and I went and started to panic. But they stopped me from running. They got me to stop. I had taken out my aids. I do around them a lot. We don’t really talk much when we’re together.”

“But she did something?”

“Yeah, they did,” Shane nodded. “They used ASL,” he said, a little smile on his face.

“I remember you saying that you almost ran away when you got in the next day,” Hayden said.

“Yeah. I panicked, and they sorted me out. Used sign language and we talked. He learned-” he stopped.

“He,” Jackie said, still smiling at him.

Shane nodded quickly. “Yeah, he.”

“Okay, that’s fine. So that was what you wanted to tell us? That Lily wasn’t a woman?” Hayden asked him.

“That and well…” he trailed off.

“What is it, Shane?” Hayden pushed a little more.

“Lily, isn’t a Lily, as you know. I met them for the first time when I was seventeen. It wasn’t serious, just hooking up when we could. When times aligned, we would meet. Spend time, we started messaging each other, talking more. But not really, talking. He knew I was deaf, figured that out almost straight away. I didn’t know that he’s been learning, scared to show me since he wanted it to be perfect. He’s fucking good at it, he surprised me, using it, getting to just spend the time without my aids, and talking was really nice. Just like it is here.”

“You’re hesitating,” Hayden said, “Who are they? If you want to say.”

“Ilya… Rozanov,” Shane finally said.

Hayden leaned back, closing his eyes for a few moments. “Okay,” he said, keeping his voice down and calm.

“I’m sorry. I-” Shane began, stopping when Hayden held up a hand.

“No. There is no need for sorry. I just want to ask two questions. And that’s all,” he told his friend.

Shane bit his lip and then nodded, “Go on.”

“Do you love him?” he asked, getting a firm nod, “Does he make you happy?”

“Yeah, to both,” Shane said, a soft smile on his face. “He learned ASL for me, Hayd. He learned another language just to talk with me in it. Only my parents and you guys have done that. Taken the time to speak to me in my own language. You… you won’t be able to understand it, but he learned it. And I know his English wasn’t that great when he first came here; he was still learning. And we helped each other a few times, several times over the years, when he didn’t understand something, or I missed something someone said because I couldn’t pick up on it. He… is everything.”

Hayden nodded, “Okay,” he said, “I want to meet him, not as a player, but as your boyfriend. I’m trying to switch heads here,” he told him, being honest. “I’ve spent a long time wanting to bash a hockey stick over his head, and now I’m trying to get my head going that I’m going to be handing him a beer at the next family BBQ,” he snorted.

Shane laughed, unrestrained and sounding happy.

“Tell me, everything,” Jackie said, “I want to know exactly how this fucking happened.”

Shane smiled and began to tell them as much as he could. For the first time, someone knew about Ilya, not the Captain of the Boston Bears, but Ilya, the man that Shane had fallen for.

Jackie and Hayden listened and watched him as he smiled more and more as he talked about Ilya and their relationship.

“He’s going to end up in Boston,” Hayden whispered.

“Yeah,” Jackie nodded slightly, agreeing with her husband.

Shane finally stopped, “Sorry, didn’t mean to.”

“Was that the first time you’ve been able to talk about him?” Jackie asked, leaning against Hayden, who wrapped an arm around her.

“Yeah, it is. I’ve not been able to talk to my parents. I don’t know how they’re going to react to it. I think my dad will be fine. My Mom,” he shrugged and sighed.

“Not going to be good,” Hayden nodded. He’d met Yuna a few times, and while she was a great manager, able to get brand deals easily for her son. She often let Shane down when it came to being his mother more than manager. “I take it, with Rozanov in Boston, you’re going to want to move nearer to him?”

Shane paused at that. “I… I haven’t thought about it.”

“Meaning you have, but have not said anything,” Hayden smiled at him. Knowing how Shane worked. He knew that the man would have thought everything over and already wondered just what his next step was going to be. “To be honest with you, even when I didn’t know it was serious, Jackie and I thought this was going to happen at some point.”

Shane blinked as he looked at them, “What… You?” he asked, frowning as he tried to take in what Hayden had told him.

“Shane,” Jackie said, “We both know you well. We knew that something serious was going on with Lily. Ilya,” she corrected, “That you’d want to be with them. Not here, away from them all the time. You’ll want to be close to them. I know you love Montreal, but you’ve been having trouble.”

“With Theriualt,” Hayden added, “He’s been getting worse, with everything he’s been doing and saying over the last few months. He’s trying to find a way to get you out.”

“I know, and part of me wants to fight it. But you’re right, I’m getting annoyed, and playing isn’t as much fun as it used to be. I still love playing with you and JJ, but the rest…” he sighed heavily, “Some of the things that they’ve been saying, they’ve hurt.”

“I know, I can tell, I’ve tried to stop it, but with Theriualt backing them, he’s not really doing anything to change the culture,” Hayden said, “So I don’t blame you for wanting it. We’ve got a few months before the trade deadline. So you can have a look and get your agent to start talking to Boston, or somewhere closer, so you can be with him.”

“You’re taking this well,” Shane said, as he looked at the two of them.

“I’ve seen how light you are when you’ve seen Lily. When you talk with her, you are just happier. I’m not sure I like him, but I’ve only met him on the ice. So, we’ll have to see what he’s like in a more domestic setting. Not only that, he learned ASL for you; he did that for you when most of your own damn family didn’t. Where none of the management know, haven’t, or even think about having a translator on hand just in case something happens.”

Shane nodded, “They refused,” he told him.

“There you go, more reason to leave, and I hate the thought of you going, but… You do, I’m leaving too. I’m twenty-seven now. I’ve got UFA this year too. Sooo,” he trailed off, “I can start looking for somewhere else as well. Since I don’t want to be here any longer. I’ll give JJ the word, too, since I know he won’t want to remain; he gets just as many racist remarks as you do, maybe even more. He stays because of us.”

“Yeah, we should all get the fuck out of Montreal,” Shane said, a little relieved that Hayden and JJ wouldn’t be left behind at all.

They talked a little more about putting a plan in place. Shane felt excited as he wondered if he should tell Ilya what he wanted to do at the end of the season. He’d have Farrah start looking into things. Hayden drove Shane home. They would have two days before they had to head to the rink to practice, and Shane had plans for that time now that he had a plan in mind.