Bax’s Reviews > The Long Game > Status Update
Bax
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I see many debated about Ilya not voicing his thoughts out. But would it bring any good? He could be angry towards Shane but Shane was already in a bad place. Would it end with a good note?
Possibly not. Possibly yes. But their issues probably could have been resolved in chapter 1.
— Jan 01, 2026 11:17PM
Possibly not. Possibly yes. But their issues probably could have been resolved in chapter 1.
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Bax
is starting
“What if they’d never met?
But they had, and they were perfect for each other in a way that probably only they would ever understand. Their relationship wasn’t easy, but it existed. They’d made it happen, against all odds, and they’d protected it.”
I don’t understand either lol it’s true, only they understand each other
— Jan 02, 2026 01:09PM
But they had, and they were perfect for each other in a way that probably only they would ever understand. Their relationship wasn’t easy, but it existed. They’d made it happen, against all odds, and they’d protected it.”
I don’t understand either lol it’s true, only they understand each other
Bax
is starting
“Aren’t we both concerned about that?”
Ilya didn’t answer, and Shane felt like he was missing something important. “We can talk about it if you—”
“No,” Ilya grumbled. “Is nothing.”
“Okay.” It wasn’t the first time Ilya had seemed randomly upset about something he refused to talk about. Shane worried, sometimes, that there were a lot of things Ilya wasn’t telling him.
SEEEE Shane cared alot
— Jan 02, 2026 06:07AM
Ilya didn’t answer, and Shane felt like he was missing something important. “We can talk about it if you—”
“No,” Ilya grumbled. “Is nothing.”
“Okay.” It wasn’t the first time Ilya had seemed randomly upset about something he refused to talk about. Shane worried, sometimes, that there were a lot of things Ilya wasn’t telling him.
SEEEE Shane cared alot
Bax
is starting
“Would you show me off?” Shane asked quietly.
He could feel the heat of Ilya’s gaze even without looking. “I would never stop showing you off,” Ilya said. “If I could.”
— Jan 02, 2026 12:51AM
He could feel the heat of Ilya’s gaze even without looking. “I would never stop showing you off,” Ilya said. “If I could.”
Bax
is starting
“He took a sideways step so his hip brushed against Ilya’s, then placed a hand on the small of his back. It wasn’t much, but Ilya’s whole body relaxed as he leaned back into the touch. He glanced down at Shane and gave him a small, grateful smile.”
I cannot stay mad at Shane because of this
— Jan 02, 2026 12:48AM
I cannot stay mad at Shane because of this
Bax
is starting
Shane flinched, and stared at him with wide, questioning eyes.
“What?” he asked.
Kiss me, Ilya wanted to say. Kiss me and hold me in front of all these people. Pull me onstage and do it. I don’t care anymore. Please. I’m dying.
“Nothing,” Ilya said, and stepped away. “Nothing.”
Stopppp Ilya is always dying since HR too 😔
— Jan 02, 2026 12:45AM
“What?” he asked.
Kiss me, Ilya wanted to say. Kiss me and hold me in front of all these people. Pull me onstage and do it. I don’t care anymore. Please. I’m dying.
“Nothing,” Ilya said, and stepped away. “Nothing.”
Stopppp Ilya is always dying since HR too 😔
Bax
is starting
“Sometimes Ilya was so starved for touch he felt like screaming. He felt it most when Shane was close, like he was now, but off-limits.”
— Jan 02, 2026 12:42AM
Bax
is starting
“Ilya closed and locked the door, then pressed Shane against it.
“Oh,” Shane said, and then Ilya was kissing him, hard and with purpose, as if this was a form of physical therapy.
“Better?” Ilya asked, when they finally pulled apart.”
Oh to be understood and loved by Ilya. Idk how Shane missed all this
— Jan 02, 2026 12:37AM
“Oh,” Shane said, and then Ilya was kissing him, hard and with purpose, as if this was a form of physical therapy.
“Better?” Ilya asked, when they finally pulled apart.”
Oh to be understood and loved by Ilya. Idk how Shane missed all this
Bax
is starting
“Why is it a secret? You wouldn’t be the only gay hockey players. Or queer. Sorry, I shouldn’t assume.”
“I am bisexual,” Ilya said, nodding. “Shane is super gay.”
“I’m regular gay,” Shane argued.
I love Shane, but he could be exhausting sometimes. And that's coming from me. I'm sure people find me exhausting too. We're almost similar lmao
— Jan 01, 2026 11:52PM
“I am bisexual,” Ilya said, nodding. “Shane is super gay.”
“I’m regular gay,” Shane argued.
I love Shane, but he could be exhausting sometimes. And that's coming from me. I'm sure people find me exhausting too. We're almost similar lmao
Bax
is starting
“So it’s not a super-long-distance relationship,” Fabian observed.
Shane squirmed because this was the first time anyone at the table had directly acknowledged the fact that Ilya and Shane were a couple. “It’s, um. It’s not a huge distance, but—”
“Feels farther,” Ilya said. “We are so busy, during the season. Not much time together.”
Oh Ilya
— Jan 01, 2026 11:51PM
Shane squirmed because this was the first time anyone at the table had directly acknowledged the fact that Ilya and Shane were a couple. “It’s, um. It’s not a huge distance, but—”
“Feels farther,” Ilya said. “We are so busy, during the season. Not much time together.”
Oh Ilya
Bax
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“J.J. isn’t my mom.”
“No,” Yuna said. “Your mom is the one making dinner at the end of a long day while you sit on your butt and mope. Come help.”
“I’m helping,” Ilya couldn’t resist pointing out.
“I know you are.” Yuna patted his cheek. “That’s why you’re my favorite son.”
— Jan 01, 2026 11:39PM
“No,” Yuna said. “Your mom is the one making dinner at the end of a long day while you sit on your butt and mope. Come help.”
“I’m helping,” Ilya couldn’t resist pointing out.
“I know you are.” Yuna patted his cheek. “That’s why you’re my favorite son.”
