Some of my favorites Part 7

Part 1 here - Part 2 here - Part 3 here - Part 4 here - Part 5 here - Part 6 here

Sometimes I think about what I could have accomplished in my life if I could apply myself to anything the way I've applied myself to Heated Rivalry. I'm at 11 million+ words, please no one tell my mother.

I've been focused on finding lesser seen stuff, and not highlighting what's been recommended to death (which is funny because last time I included SSB(L) - ch 6 out today!!! - which is blowing up like crazy bro, whoops) because I think it's nice to discover new things, and it's crazzzzzy how many fics people just post for freeeee with no attention or fanfare and they're SO GOOD, and I think it's fun to put them out there for a little love!

Heated in the Outback by tension_till_it_breaks - If you have a competency kink, this is for you. Shane and Ilya are top-of-their-profession engineers at a gold mine in Australia, and the rest of the cast are there, too. Hi, Good Friend Rose Landry, HR Manager! Shane's been onsite at this project for a while and Ilya's a new hire and it's quickly clear they have some history. They are sweet (eventually) and there's a ton of specifics about the place and their jobs, which is cool. I just love a fic where the author shares niche knowledge/research. I do have beef, though, whyyyy does the Ilya/quokka action happen off-screen? Author, explain yourself.

Three's Company by blankyblank - Shane and Ilya are (out, but not together) roommates and they kind of accidentally pick up a guy at the bar. I won't say much about the plot because it's short and pretty simple, but it's very funny. I've read this like four times since I found it, it's just too cute.

mine for all my days by rozypilled - I love the time period between Tampa and the cottage, because they are not 100% sure what they are to each other, but they can enjoy themselves a bit more openly, and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. On the show we really just get the "Shane Hollander is an asshole!" scene, the texting before that and after Shane's injury, the intimacy of the hospital visit, etc. But during that time I like how nice they are to each other, with their guards just a little bit down. Anyway, this fic takes place then, and Shane decides to be very nice: he wants to worship Ilya's body. It's hot and romantic and character-honest how the whole thing takes Ilya so off-guard, it's a bit of a character study. Ugh, delicious.

Mr Nervous by prettypleaselou - This is actually a nice companion read to mine for all my days, because in it Shane asks to top Ilya, Ilya agrees and he's pretty blasé about it even though it's different for him. So the story is less about Ilya's experience and more about Shane's, who is nervous and needs Ilya to be bossy and directive about the whole thing. It switches (ha) the dynamic in a way that's different from a lot of other similar stories I've read, while still being true to who they are.

Homebound by Mclrnshtposting - This is a follow-up/part 2 of State Lines, which I loved and rec'd in Part 3. If you like codependent Hollanov, they are very very very clingy in this one, while still participating in their own lives - spoilers if you haven't read the first part: >!Ilya's working on his dissertation and Shane is dealing with divorce and applying to/starting law school!<. You don't necessarily need to read State Lines first, but you should because it's great and this will make a lot more sense (and have greater impact) if you do. This is the first year of their renewed relationship after Shane >!leaves his abusive husband, Maxim!< in Part 1.

i know how to hurt myself on you by eternalbrook - This is a two-work series and the second part is a 2/7 WIP. This is not my usual fare because a. Ilya is really mean in it, and 2. there's original characters which I usually don't have the patience for but I gave this a try and liked it. Part 1 is me, in shapes to make you pleased which is sort of a prologue setting the tone between the boys, and Ilya is, let's just say, not his best self. Like, he clearly likes/loves Shane, but he's stupid and young and he plays into the BDSM/punishment kink Shane encourages without fully understanding either what his role in it should be or what is driving Shane's need for it (it's self-hatred) and it's oh so sad and messy. Part 2 is i get so ugly without you, where it's a few years since they've seen each other and Ilya's about to propose to his older Russian model girlfriend when he runs into Shane and his (MORMON!!) fiancée at a party - the shit hits the fan. The OC's (Ilya's girl Vesna and Shane's girl Braelyn) are awesome, not sure what parts they will play in the rest of the story, but I'm in for the ride. Check the tags for both.

BOGO by princepixel - Yuna POV, Ilya dies in a plane crash (not that one) and Shane dies of a broken heart shortly after. Yuna contacts a shaman to bring Shane back, but he doesn't come back alone. I try not to read or rec WIPs too much but I really love this premise, the Yuna of it all, and what I think of as "casual magic," like it's there, but no one worries too much about it. Oh also, this is by the author of Blizost which is one of my all-time fave HR fics, so yeah, I'm sat. I'm dying to see where this goes.

something, something, rozanov by ilyaskotenok - Ugh, ugh ugh ugh. If you're in need of a good cry, please help yourself. They broke up after Tampa and now they're in their 50s and they meet up for lunch. No HEA here but there's (kind of) some closure or understanding.