Tuesday Top Five: That Rivalry Sure Is Heated
Apr. 7th, 2026 02:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nevannaI am pretty sure what, when I first started watching Heated Rivalry,, I said to myself, "I'm enjoying this series so far and I'm glad that the fandom is so active, but I'm not really into sports or sports romance so I don't think I'll be fannish about it." Possibly I also told you something to that effect. Time makes fools of us all, I suppose, because here I am, two months later, spending some time writing my own fanfiction (although that's set in an AU that makes shameless use of my favorite tropes) and a lot more time admiring the immense talent of other writers in this fandom.
Here are five fanfics that I've particularly enjoyed. Please heed the ratings and warnings in the AO3 headers.
1. other forms of intimacy by ultravioletdaydream
The four installments in this fanfic - two set during the show's first season, and two after - perfectly capture a series of moments in the evolution of Shane and Ilya's relationship and the growing affection and understanding between them. (Fun fact: the third section appeared on my radar because of a post about How To Believably Torment Shane Hollander, which I have kept in mind as I've set out to do exactly that.)
2. Mr. Emergency Contact by fandom_commitment_issues
"Kidfic" isn't exactly one of my go-to fannish tropes, but I was both entertained and moved by the way this story took a premise that even the writer admits is "crack treated seriously" (Ilya has to pick up the child of Shane's friend and teammate from school in the middle of the day) and ran with it. In addition to Ilya's grouchiness at Hayden for putting him in this position, and the adorable moments in which he and the sick little girl negotiate snacks, movies, and medicine-taking, I always like when fanfic delves into the public perception of the Hockey Lads and the lives that they lead, and that's a big part of how this fic unfolds. I also love how readily Ilya calls on Shane's mom for advice, and how she helps him without hesitation.
3. Knowing by toomuchplor
I always love a well-written outsider POV, and this story explores Scott Hunter's perspective on Shane and Ilya's (very unsuccessful) attempts to be sneaky, while Scott himself is falling for Kip and dealing with the pressure of the closet. Their scenes together are sweet and sexy and funny, but also include a very believable argument and attempt at compromise. Also, Ilya continues his tradition, established in the books (none of which I'd read when I first encountered this fic), of showing up in the middle of other hockey players' romantic drama to be a hilarious menace.
4. hayden needs to take a minute by profdanglais
At the end of Heated Rivalry The Book, Hayden figures out that Shane and Ilya are together, but it has yet to happen in the show, so in the meatime, fanfic writers have, naturally, taken it upon themselves to write their own versions of how it might happen. I love all of the character voices in this little story, and although Shane is not the Game Changers character whom those in the know would likely associate with Steve Rogers, the mention of his "Captain Frown" inevitably reminds me of The Ballad of Captain America's Disapproving Face.
5. knockout by PenAndInkPrincess
I was completely charmed by this post-canon character and relationship study, which affirms that even long-established partners can learn things about each other.
Here are five fanfics that I've particularly enjoyed. Please heed the ratings and warnings in the AO3 headers.
1. other forms of intimacy by ultravioletdaydream
Shane and Ilya taking care of each other.
The four installments in this fanfic - two set during the show's first season, and two after - perfectly capture a series of moments in the evolution of Shane and Ilya's relationship and the growing affection and understanding between them. (Fun fact: the third section appeared on my radar because of a post about How To Believably Torment Shane Hollander, which I have kept in mind as I've set out to do exactly that.)
2. Mr. Emergency Contact by fandom_commitment_issues
Ilya Rozanov realizes he's an emergency contact in the exact moment he needs to act like an emergency contact. Hayden Pike has to release a statement about it.
"Kidfic" isn't exactly one of my go-to fannish tropes, but I was both entertained and moved by the way this story took a premise that even the writer admits is "crack treated seriously" (Ilya has to pick up the child of Shane's friend and teammate from school in the middle of the day) and ran with it. In addition to Ilya's grouchiness at Hayden for putting him in this position, and the adorable moments in which he and the sick little girl negotiate snacks, movies, and medicine-taking, I always like when fanfic delves into the public perception of the Hockey Lads and the lives that they lead, and that's a big part of how this fic unfolds. I also love how readily Ilya calls on Shane's mom for advice, and how she helps him without hesitation.
3. Knowing by toomuchplor
Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are not Scott's problem. That's all there is to it.
I always love a well-written outsider POV, and this story explores Scott Hunter's perspective on Shane and Ilya's (very unsuccessful) attempts to be sneaky, while Scott himself is falling for Kip and dealing with the pressure of the closet. Their scenes together are sweet and sexy and funny, but also include a very believable argument and attempt at compromise. Also, Ilya continues his tradition, established in the books (none of which I'd read when I first encountered this fic), of showing up in the middle of other hockey players' romantic drama to be a hilarious menace.
4. hayden needs to take a minute by profdanglais
Hayden's curiosity gets the better of him and he ends up learning more about his best friend than he needed to know.
At the end of Heated Rivalry The Book, Hayden figures out that Shane and Ilya are together, but it has yet to happen in the show, so in the meatime, fanfic writers have, naturally, taken it upon themselves to write their own versions of how it might happen. I love all of the character voices in this little story, and although Shane is not the Game Changers character whom those in the know would likely associate with Steve Rogers, the mention of his "Captain Frown" inevitably reminds me of The Ballad of Captain America's Disapproving Face.
5. knockout by PenAndInkPrincess
(in which Ilya learns that being a passenger in the car knocks Shane tf out)
I was completely charmed by this post-canon character and relationship study, which affirms that even long-established partners can learn things about each other.
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