- who is more likely to fall asleep on the couch
Roman, but Shea's not far behind him. Shea just holds out a little longer, because it's his favorite moment of the day, the warm solid weight of Roman's body pressed against his, Roman's head on his shoulder,both of them warm and cozy under a pile of blankets and dogs.
- who leaves notes for the other to find
Shea. Shea is a huge sap about things like that, once he feels comfortable enough in a relationship. He's also the one who makes sure to add Roman's weird brand of coconut water and whatever superfood snack he's into at the time to the grocery order, once Roman starts spending the night.
After the trade, Roman is the one who sends the random texts during the day, pictures of sunset in the parking lot after practice, Roman's feet up on the ottoman with the golf channel on in the background -- love you miss you thinking about you (Roman was surprised by how much he missed it, the notes and the little surprise treats in the fridge, and he wants Shea to have something like that when he's up in Montreal.)
- who crosses the street to pet a cute dog
It's kind of a team effort. Shea really wants to pet the dogs, but he doesn't want to talk to the random humans with them. So Shea crosses the street to pet the dogs, and Roman goes with him to run interference with the dogs' people.
- who initiates sex most of the time
Shea is more likely to make the first move in the morning, or when they're lying on the couch together, when they're warm and close and comfortable. Roman is more likely to start things after a good game or a night out with the guys, when they're amped up and laughing.
But Roman is almost always the one who initiates the Skype sex. Shea is too self-conscious to just go for it. No one looks sexy over a laptop webcam and a hotel internet connection (well, Roman does, but Shea does not)(in Shea's opinion; Roman begs to differ). But Roman is good at starting it, light and easy, recognizing that this is all kind of ridiculous. Right up until it isn't, until they're both flushed and breathing hard, no room for anything except heat and want and longing.
- who says “I love you” first
It depends on how much Suter leaving fucked Shea up emotionally. Shea loved Ryan, and Ryan didn't love Shea back -- or he did, but not enough, not the right way. In one version of this story, Shea decides that he's not going to let himself get hurt like that again, and when he and Roman start whatever it is they're doing, he's determined to keep it casual, easy, un-serious. So Roman is the one who says it first. Shea freezes. "Oh," he says, and Roman rolls his eyes. "I'm just saying," Roman says, and closes his eyes and goes to sleep, before Shea can come up with a response. Roman says it a lot after that. He doesn't need Shea to say it back, he knows Shea cares about him, from all the little things Shea does. (He wants him to say it, but he doesn't need it.) Sometimes when Roman says it, Shea can feel the shape of the words in his own mouth, and they feel right, but they feel like fear and the memory of pain, too, and he doesn't let them out. And then Shea gets traded, and he can't remember why he ever thought it was a good idea to keep his mouth shut. It's the offseason, and they're in different countries, but Shea calls Roman without even checking the time difference. "I love you," he says, as soon as Roman picks up the phone. "I know," Roman says, and Shea feels like he can breathe again.
But in some versions of this story, Shea's heart stays soft and open. Sure, he freaks out and signs the offer sheet with Philly in a fit of heartbreak and betrayal, but he gets over it. When he realizes he's in love with Roman, he tells him. They're making dinner, and Roman's head snaps up, eyes wide, his pile of carrots forgotten. Because Roman had been there for the last year of Ryan and Shea together, and the year after that. He's been telling himself this whole time to be cool, don't get in too deep, because there's no way this is anything other than a rebound thing for Shea. Whenever he thought about the future of this relationship, it never included Shea saying I love you out of nowhere, easy and comfortable and happy. "I love you, too," Roman says helplessly, and Shea's smile gets wider. He kisses Roman's mouth, then turns around to get the pasta out of the cabinet. All of Roman's carrots come out uneven after that, and his face hurts from smiling so hard.
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