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shane was only allowed to touch ilya's hair when they were alone. this didn't make sense to shane at first but once he got his hands tangled in his hair, it all clicked.
they were at hayden pikes house of all places, babysitting for him and jackie while they were out on a date when it happened.
the kids had all been tucked into bed, read multiple stories by their favorite uncle ilya, with silly voices and all. ilya and shane were resting on the couch, ilyas head resting in shane's lap as they watched a quiet rerun of an admirals game, much to ilyas chagrin.
shane wasn't sure what to do with his hands, arms lowering from being crossed at his chest above ilyas head. he glanced down at ilya, deciding wether or not to test the past set boundaries of "hands off the hair." what better place to do it than in his best friends house? he thought to himself mischievously.
he lowered a single hand to rest on top of ilyas head, noting the way a soft puff of air escaped the russians lips, placing the other hand softly on his shoulder.
carefully, calculated, like everything else in his life, he wove his fingers into the blonde curls that sat on his boyfriends head. when ilya didn't protest, he emphasized his movements, tugging softly, dragging his fingers slowly through the golden strands. ilya shifted, shane paused his movements with a soft breath, but instead of shifting away, ilya pressed himself even further into shane's touch. though they had been together for quite some time now, ilya kept his vulnerability close to his heart, only allowing it occasionally. shane dug further, pressing his finger tips gently into ilyas scalp, massaging softly.
ilya let out a soft deep hum, grumbling low in his chest. it was almost as if he was purring. "malysh..." shane started, intrigued by the soft pliant lump ilya had turned into simply from touching his hair.
"how did i get so lucky?" shane asked, pressing a kiss on to ilyas head. "i can't believe i get to sit here with the worlds best hockey player," he teased, fingers still dancing through ilyas curls.
"Нет, это ты, моя любовь." no, that's you, my love.'
and oh, isn't that interesting.
"hmm? oh are you sure? i guess that means you don't really think my backhand is weak?"
"В тебе нет ничего слабого." nothing about you is weak.
shane was thanking his lucky stars that he decided to learn russian, he couldn't imagine missing the truth that was being spilled from his boyfriends lips. and why not have a little fun? he was only human.
"so you don't really hate hayden, then?"
"Конечно, нет. Он твой друг. Он делает тебя счастливой." of course not, he's your friend, he makes you happy.
oh my god, he should really be recording this. he thought to himself, as he giggled quietly. so this explains the "hands off" policy. playing with ilyas hair was like truth serum for the man, and shane couldn't get enough.
"Хватит вопросов, моя любовь." enough questions, my love. ilya murmured, turning over to press his face in to the small, soft part of shane's stomach, arms coming to wrap around his waist.
shane's heart clenched. he should've broken that rule long ago, given ilya more chances to be completely and utterly comfortable with him. he knew hayden and jackie would be home any minute, but he selfishly wanted more time in which ilya was like this.
he twisted a few locks around his fingers, relishing in the way ilya hummed, and tightened his grip on shane's waist. he slowly lifted his hand away from ilyas head, not missing the way he lifted, trying to follow, before turning and squinting up at shane. "ah, i see you have discovered my secret." he whispered, a small smile daring to cross his lips.
"i would've kept going, but hayden and jackie will be home soon. i wasn't sure how comfortable you felt with them seeing you like that." shane murmured, leaning forward to press another soft kiss against his head. ilya sighed, "yes. i have a reputation to... uphold. yes, that is the correct saying." he grunted as he forced himself up right, not quite all the way as he leaned his weight into shane's side.
shane grabbed his jaw, using the lasting softness to press a kiss onto ilyas lips, deepening it only slightly. pulling away, ilya whimpered, and then paused, "i have..." he stopped, shane blinked at him, "did you just... whimper?" he asked. ilya blushed, "no! no, russians do not do this." he grumbled. "right, just like they don't blush," shane said teasingly, running a thumb over ilyas now pink cheeks.
"okay, okay, enough. pike will be home soon. do not need him getting the wrong idea that i am soft or something."
"you are soft."
"yes but only for you, милый"