Troubled Water – Chapter Three – Duochanfan

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Chapter Three

December 2008

“I can’t wait until I can join you on Team Canada,” Evan said as he watched his brother unpack in their hotel room. The International Prospect Cup was taking place, and Shane had been asked to join the team earlier that year. They were now in the final couple of games. Canada was showing a lot of promise with Shane’s addition to the team. Now they had at least two games before they would be in the final. As long as they won against the next two, they’d be guaranteed at least 2nd place.

“Next year, if they want you,” Shane said as he looked at his brother. “Miss you being on the right,” he added, “I get comfortable with you there when we’re playing on the same team.”

“Same, but it’s not going to be like that if we both get drafted,” Evan reminded him.

“Yeah, playing against each other,” Shane sighed, “Going to be different if it happens. No matter where you end up, know that I’ve got your back.”

Evan smiled at him as he got up from the chair he had been sitting on. He knew his brother would kill him if he had gotten on his bed, or even his own, without taking his shoes off and changing out of his everyday clothes. His brother was particular about things like that. Not that he cared about the riles Shane had set down for him when they shared a room. “Rozanov is here, already,” he said, knowing his brother had been watching some of the Russians’ training videos. Analyzing the other teen, he had a good chance of having to verse at some point. The Russian team was on fire; they had almost had total victory over everyone they had played for so far. The other teenager played brilliantly, and Shane wanted to see how he matched up against him.

“Yeah,” Shane said absently, he had already spotted Rozanov once as they were going through the lobby of the hotel. The Russian team was heading to the practice facility. Shane and the Canadian team would be doing the same in around an hour. 

Evan snorted and rolled his eyes. He started to unpack when his brother sent him that look that all older siblings had. Get moving, or I’m leaving you behind. Evan really didn’t want to be left behind. Mostly because he would be bored in the hotel room on his own. Their mom was there, but she was going to let them go with the rest of the team on the bus that had been hired to get them there. Yuna would be meeting up with an old friend. And to the two boys, old friend meant she was networking.

XxXxX

Shane felt nervous as he walked into the parking lot. The final was the next day, and Russia and Canada had made it. There was no one else around, but that was fine. There was only one person that Shane wanted to meet, and that was Ilya Rozanov, the center for Team Russia. “Ilya Rozanov?” he asked, knowing exactly who was standing there, trying to light a cigarette.

The teenager turned around. The beanie on his head pressed the curls down, and only some peeked out at the bottom of it. “Yes,” he said, a slight tilt to his head as he looked Shane over.

“I’m… I’m Shane Hollander, I just wanted to come and say Hi,” he said, nervously as he walked closer, holding out a hand.

Ilya took it and gave it a firm shake. “Hollander,” he said, his tone accented, giving it a sharp edge.

“Yeah, I’m with Team Canada. I’ve been watching you play, you’re amazing. You edges, control, it’s amazing to watch,” he gushed just a little, trying to rein himself in.

“I know, I saw,” he said. “You play well, too,” he finally said.

“Thank you,” Shaen said politely. “I… well, good luck in the rest of the games. Good luck in tomorrow’s game,” he said, smiling at him.

Ilya smirked, “You will not be so nice when we beat you,” he commented.

Shane stared at Ilya, at the chirp, “Not a chance. We’ll be beating you,” he said, a sharp grin on his face as the two teens stared at each other for a little longer.

Evan stood there staring at the two of them before slowly going back around the corner. He had been sent by his mom to find Shane for dinner. “Wow,” he muttered to himself. “They were just saying hi, and that was fucking intense, and the staring, What the fuck,” he carried on as he peeked around the corner to see the two slowly moving away from each other. Evan quickly hurried away before Shane spotted him. He knew his brother would be embarrassed about the encounter. Shane always did get embarrassed easily about things. 

“Where’s your brother?” Yuna asked him as he met up with her.

“He’s coming, was talking to someone. I didn’t want to interrupt,” Evan said, shrugging.

Yuna huffed but nodded. “Alright,” she said, “Now, Shane’s got his match tomorrow. We’ll be in the stands. Your dad should be arriving tonight so he can be here for it,” she added.

“Okay,” Evan nodded, “it’ll be good to celebrate together with him.”

“He should win; the only one of Russia I’m wary of is Rozanov. He’s good, the rest of his team is well below Shane’s skill level,” Yuna said before breaking down the stats for the teen.

Even refrained from rolling his eyes. Both his mom and brother were like this when it came to Hockey. He was more like his dad, a bit more laidback about hockey. He loved playing when he had, hated that he hadn’t been able to go professional after an injury, but he still loved the work he did and spending so much time with his family.

Shane finally met up with them, and Yuna asked him who he was talking with. Evan rolled his eyes at their mom. She was always doing this. A little afraid that someone would come in and take her boys. He knew that part of it came from the fact that Evan’s biological family had never been found. And even with the adoption, they could come in and try to contest it, even now, after over twelve years of being with the family. He barely remembered anything now. just flashes of two people who hated him, hurting him. And a young teenager who would hug him and try to make things nice for him. He barely even remembered what they looked like.

Evan shook his head and followed his family to Yuna’s car. She had driven in with Evan instead of going with the team. Letting Shane bond with his team a little more.

XxXxX

Evan looked at his brother, who was sulking around the room. Canada had lost; a last-minute goal by Ilya had clinched it for Russia. Both teams had played well. Shane and Ilya had played so well against each other. It had been a compelling game to watch; Evan had been on the edge of his seat almost as much as the rest of the crowd. Though he had expected Ilya to have someone come down to the ice to celebrate the win with the rest of his team. But there was no one. He stood to one side, alone, unlike every other member of his team, who had at least someone there for them. Evan had a feeling when he looked at Ilya, someone who had ghosts in his closet, as he did. Someone who knew what it was like to trust someone and have it thrown back at them. Evan might not remember much, but that didn’t stop his dreams from turning into nightmares about what he could remember of the people who’d had him before Yuna and David had taken him in.

“Shane,” Evan finally said, “it happens. You can’t win every game, and you did fuckign amazing,” he added, trying to cheer his brother up.

Shane flopped down on his bed. He normally wouldn’t, but Evan thought it was about time Shane acted like a damn teenager instead of like he was their dad’s age. “I know that,” he said, rolling over to face his little brother. Rozanov was fucking amazing, and I just didn’t gel right with the team. They… are off with me,” he frowned. I know I’m the youngest player on the team, but,” he sighed.

“Let me guess, it’s the same thing that happened when you got asked to join them. They were fucking dicks because you can skate circles around them,” Evan rolled his eyes, knowing that was most likely the case.

Shane sat up, “It’s always the same when I get on a team.” 

“I know, I’ve seen the way things happen, and with this team, you came in as soon as they could bring you in. You were given the first line, center, and everything that they would believe you have to earn. But you have earned them, Shane. You’re so fucking good, I only hope I’m half of what you are. So they don’t pass when they should have. Your right winger is slow for what you need. Thankfully, that was his last time with the team; he’s going to be moving on now. He’s aged out of things,” he said, as he went over the ones that Shane played with.

“Well, hopefully you’ll be asked, because we make a great team,” Shane told him, reminding them of their conversation when they had first arrived in Sascatcawan. 

“Maybe next year,” Evan grinned, hoping he would be able to join him. They were two of the best coming up in the next few years. Evan had to work his ass off to keep up with Shane. He wasn’t naturally gifted like his brother when it came to reading the ice, but he knew his way around at least.

“Will be next year, already heard the coach talking. They want you to join next year, take Wagner’s place,” he said, “And you’re right, Wagner’s not fast enough to keep up. I felt like I had to keep slowing myself down just to be able to get him where I wanted him, and by then the opportunities just kept passing us by.” 

“I saw,” Evan said as Shane began to break the game down even more. He listened, offering a few words, but knew his brother just needed someone to hear him, to listen to what was being said and maybe read between the lines that Shane himself wasn’t certain about. That carried on until their mom knocked on the door and got them to go with them for dinner.

XxXxX

Evan loosened his suit. His parents had trusted him and Shane to have their own rooms. Shane was eighteen now, and entitled to his full privacy, according to his parents. Shane needed more alone time. Evan knew exactly what they were implying, and Evan really didn’t want to think of his brother like that at all. He headed up to his room. Shane had disappeared as soon as he’d been able to. His parents had wanted to talk to him, since next year, it might be Evan’s turn to be drafted. Evan had quickly wanted to get away from his parents for a bit and bug Shane; he knew his brother was disapointed in not being the first pick. But he couldn’t imagine him playing for Boston.

It was getting late, and he walked toward his room, a few doors away from Shane’s, and stopped as he saw his brother heading for the lift. He was in his workout gear. Evan grinned, about to call out and ask him to wait for him, but the man was already on the lift. Evan hurried to his room, wondering if he could join him in his workout. He knew his brother tended to zone out with his music when he trained at times, but he wouldn’t mind at least having company and getting to do something other than listen to idiots make racist remarks about his brother and mom. 

Evan changed and hurried down to the small hotel gym, which looked more like two rooms that had been knocked together to create it. There wasn’t much in there, but it was better than nothing. He was about to open the door when he could hear heaving breathing and the whirring of exercise bikes. He saw his brother and Ilya Rozanov, sharing glances as they raced. 

“I think I’ll leave them to it,” he muttered as he headed back to his room. Maybe he could find something to watch.

XxXxX

Shane grinned as he looked over at Ilya. Their little impromptu race on the bikes had been fun.

“Whoo!” Ilya said as he sat back, grabbing his water bottle and drinking from it. The teenager glanced around, noting that there wasn’t another water bottle for Shane. He held it out, “Drink,” he ordered.

Shane shook his head quickly, sharply.

“Drink, you need to hydrate after that,” he told him.

Shane hesitated for a few more moments before reaching out and taking the water bottle. He kept his eye on Ilya the entire time before handing it back.

“That was fun,” Ilya told him. “It was good night, Da?” he asked him.

“Mostly,” Shane nodded.

“You are happy with Montreal?” he then asked, drinking more as he waited for Shane to answer.

“Yeah, it’s my mom’s favorite team. Even though Dad is an Ottawa fan,” he smiled a little.

“Ah, conflict when they play?” Ilya laughed as he asked him.

“Minor disagreements. Though Mom said he had to be a Voyageurs fan from now on, since I’ll be playing for them. It’ll be nice being close to home. I’d miss seeing my brother otherwise.”

“Ah, yes, you have younger brother, also hockey player?” he asked him.

Shane nodded, “Yeah, Evan. He’s good, right wing. We play well together when we get the chance. Prospect cup this year might be the last time we’ll be able to play together like that.”

“Ah, he wishes to be drafted, or not?” he asked, frowning slightly.

“He does, he’ll be next year. There are already rumors about a few teams wanting him. He’s good, adaptable. Able to play all three positions. Does best on the right wing, though,” Shaen said, insanely proud of his little brother.

Ilya nodded, watching Shane as he talked about his brother. “You are happy to have brother?” he asked.

“Yeah. Mom and Dad struggled to have kids. I was their little miracle,” Shane told him, “I was a little early, but I thrived well. But Mom and Dad couldn’t ahve anymore. When I was five, just before Christmas, I begged my mom to let me go to the park. It was covered in snow, and I just wanted to go down the slide a few times,” he smiled. “When I went through a tunnel, there was a kid. He was kinda small, looked cold and tired. Said he didn’t know where his mama was,” he said, thinking back to the day that he had found Evan. “He told me his name was Evan, and his Mama had left him there when it was dark. Told him his mom would be able to find him. But he went to sleep, and we took him to the hospital. A few days later, Mom and Dad brought him home, and by the time I turned six, I had a little brother. Mom and Dad adopted him, and it was the best birthday present ever.”

“Adopted,” Ilya nodded. “I have brother, do not like him. He is always mean, wants money all time,” he confessed. “Father is same.” He paused for a second. “Did your brother ever find the others, his previous family?”

“No, we didn’t. No missing kids that we could find, or anything about a child not turning up. He was four at the time. He’s seventeen now. Turned seventeen last week. So he’ll be of age when the next draft happens. I just wish we could be playing on the same team. But Montreal doesn’t have a round one pick next year. They traded it for Comeau. He joined them last season. Not bad on defence, but could be better. Tends to let his hot head get him in trouble. Boston has Cliff Marlow, Left wing, really good. He should fit your play style well. He’s about a year older than us,” Shane began to go over the players that were coming and going from both Montreal and Boston.

“You know a lot,” Ilya snorted as Shane stopped.

“I watched. I study,” he shrugged, looking embarrassed.

“It is good that you do,” he nodded at him, “It is nice to know about temas. Who are doing better and who are not,” he said.

Shane smiled, “Thanks, not everyone wants to listen to me. My brother will. He listens; our parents do as well. But for someone outside of family, most just ignore me or turn the conversation to other things,” he shrugged.

“Hmm,” Ilya nodded, getting up, “We should go to bed, I have flight in morning. Back to Russia.”

“Yeah, I’ll be heading back to Ottawa after this. Getting ready for one last season with my old team, before I head to Montreal,” Shane said.

“We will see each other again, at cup, yes?” he asked, as he held out the water bottle, to get Shane drink again.

“Thanks,” Shane said, taking the water bottle and drinking a little more before handing it back. “And yeah, we should be there, Evan will be with me, he’s going to play this year.”

“Ah, will see what brother is like.”

Shane nodded as he checked the time, “We should… we should head to bed. It’s getting really late, and it’s going to be an early morning for both of us,” he added, getting up, offering a hand to the other.

Ilya took it and nodded, “Yes, back to Russia for me, with father,” he told him, “See you at the cup?”

“Yeah, I will,” Shane nodded as they walked out and headed to the lift, a companionable silence between them as they went to their rooms.

					

													

										

				

				
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