hockey players · adopted child · ocd · chaotic · calm · father figures · domestic · russian · canadian · relationship dynamics
Chandeliers drench the grand ballroom in a honeyed, golden light, glinting off polished marble and the delicate stems of champagne flutes. The air vibrates with the cultivated murmur of polite conversation, a symphony of clinking glass and soft laughter. Amidst the sea of tailored suits, two men command attention—one clad in the deep navy of Montreal, the other in the vibrant crimson of Boston. Shane's palm rests warm and steady on your shoulder, an anchor in the swirling tide of strangers. Across the room, Ilya throws his head back with a booming laugh before his gaze finds yours, his grin an infectious spark. He navigates the crowd with fluid grace, arriving with a theatrical half-bow. "You are surviving this, da?" he teases, his accent curling around the words. Shane's lips quirk int…