Chapter Text
Travelling around the globe is nothing new for NHL athletes like Quinn and Jack. However, what was new was getting a call from their agents at the ass crack of dawn during their off-season and being dragged from the lake house all the way to New York for some emergency meeting.
The details of this highly important meeting were only going to be given to the Hugheses once the jet was mid air, at the point of no return. The cold early Michigan morning is nothing compared to the frigid temperature of the jet. The thing about planes is that there’s no possible escape, on a ship you could maybe take your chances and swim, on a plane there’s no other options but to wait for whatever's coming next. And Quinn doesn’t feel like taking a chance and jumping out of a plane mid flight, that seems like a rather idiotic idea no matter how tense the jet feels right now.
Sitting with Jack across from the Devils’ GM as well as the Wilds’, Quinn can feel the tension thick in the air and prickling up his spine. He’s only known Bill for a couple months but he can still see the hidden lines of apprehension on the beta’s face, and the way Sunny’s leg keeps bouncing underneath the table is another dead giveaway that something is up, something that Quinn knows he and Jack aren’t going to like.
Bill and Sunny exchange a carefully guarded look before Bill finally places a file onto the table. “I know these last couple hours have been strange, and we do apologize for the suddenness of everything” Bill starts with what’s clearly a well practiced apology. One that Sunny rolls his eyes at, Sunny may be new to the Devils’ but he’d noticed enough to know that all the Hughes brothers appreciate the blunt truth.
So Quinn can’t help but respect the way Sunny levels them both with a bored look and jumps straight to the point, “Listen, we know that the two of you know at least something about the Crosby pack”
And Sunny is right, Quinn doesn’t think there’s a person in the world who doesn’t know about the Crosby pack. Sidney Crosby has one of the most well structured packs in the world, as one would expect from the ‘Hockey God’, though Quinn’s lost track of the actual members of Crosby’s pack from all the rumours and theories people spread online.
“Well, Crosby and his pack have run into an issue as of recently” Sunny continues as he starts opening the file in front of them, “with such a… diverse and highly functioning pack a strong centre is required. Crosby is without a doubt a strong alpha leader, however every pack needs its alpha and omega leader” with that Sunny pauses and Quinn almost snorts in amusement at how much the beta is obviously enjoying the theatrics. What stops him is the slow realization of where this conversation is going, and by the way Jack perks up in the seat next to him it's clear his brother had caught on as well.
“With these concerns in mind the NHL has decided to offer its… assistance” Quinn almost thinks he’s imagined the wince that passes over Sunny’s face but the grimace on Bill’s tells him that he hasn’t imagined anything. Their contracts keep them bonded to the NHL and whatever terms that may come with it, there’s no fighting however they’re meant to be ‘assisting’. “Meaning we’ve gone through the omegas in the NHL and a few have been selected to meet with the pack as an introductory of sorts–”
“Introductory? We’ve all met Sidney Crosby before” Jack interrupts for the first time, Quinn’s surprised it took him so long to come out of his shock as Jack’s not well known for his patience or ability to stay quiet.
With a huff that makes Quinn hide a smile behind his hand Sunny continues where he left off, “if you’d let me finish my sentence you’d understand” the beta grumbles and Quinn gently knocks his knee into Jack’s thigh to tell the younger to be patient a little longer, earning himself an eyeroll from Jack. “As I was saying, this meeting will act as an introduction to the pack. You will answer questions from various pack members and if asked you will provide a sample of your scent. You will be staying in New York until Crosby and his pack have come to some conclusion.” Sunny finishes with an almost smug look. Quinn knows the beta’s definitely amused right now, he knows his brother’s well enough to know they’ve probably driven the beta crazy with questions and now is Sunny’s chance for revenge with being able to tell them what to do.
The repetition of ‘you will’ is not lost on Quinn, and he calmly pinches Jack’s thigh under the table before he can bristle at being given so many demands without any considerations first. And he chooses to ignore the whole scent thing for now, one battle at a time after all. Also, if this is truly not optional then there’s no point arguing that one, they need to focus on what they can maybe control for now, “How long will this take?” Quinn asks his first question.
“We’re not sure, at the moment though it could take anywhere from a week to a couple months” Bill says this time, "supposedly there are going to be quite a few omegas being interviewed so the pack will most likely take their time. This isn’t a delicate matter after all.”
“Months?! You mean we’ll be stuck in New York for our entire off-season?" Normally Quinn might scold Jack for an outburst such as this, but right now Jack’s outburst says everything Quinn’s thinking.
“Yes, but that’s only if the pack considers you as an option–” Bill starts.
“Only if? There’s no if, why wouldn’t they consider me? I’m a good omega” Jack argues and if the turn didn’t baffle him then Quinn might be impressed by how quickly Jack’s gone from upset about being stuck in New York to upset that his omega ‘status’ is being apparently questioned.
“Of course, so you shouldn’t mind the extended stay then. After all this is an incredibly rare opportunity for two omegas such as yourselves–” Bill starts to amend
“But you two will be competing though” Sunny adds on and Quinn hates how much he feels his stomach drop at that and feels Jack stiffen beside him. There’s many things in their lives that he and Jack have fought over, who’s the better omega is not one of those things.
“Are we allowed to know the current pack members?” Quinn quickly interrupts wherever that conversation and train of thought were headed.
“Yes of course” Bill says with a relieved smile, the beta had also sensed the need to change the topic of conversation before things went too far south. Bill moves the opened folder across the table for Quinn and Jack to read the papers inside, Bill clears his throat before speaking “here’s some general information the packs decided to provide as well as some photos at the end.”
The list of members doesn’t really surprise Quinn, most being from the Olympics team Canada roster, however the list at the bottom labeled ‘occasional members’ is a new one, “occasional members?” Quinn can’t hold back his curiosity.
“Yes, the pack is very guarded but also surprisingly inclusive. Though Crosby’s not known to turn away any strays” Bill says with a smile, “its hard to maintain a pack from over such long distances so there is a main group as listed as well as members who filter in and out”
It's an interesting thought and Quinn can’t help but be intrigued. He has so many questions now, like how does Crosby manage such a large pack. But he keeps them to himself, for now. There’s a different question at the front of his mind right now, “there are already omegas in this pack, it doesn't say why they’re searching for a new one” Quinn says it as a statement to test the waters but he knows they can all hear the question in his words.
Sunny sighs, “We weren’t given specifics such as those. You’ll get the chance to ask during your individual interviews,” he said, sitting back comfortably into his seat as if to signal the official briefing was over.
Quinn and Jack exchange a puzzled look. If Crosby’s pack already has strong omegas, why are they hunting for a new center?
The silence that settles over the cabin makes Quinn want to crawl out of his skin, at least when they are talking his brain could be distracted by following the conversation carefully. Now he’s stuck with his own thoughts as he replays everything that’s happened in these past few hours, over and over again. The low hum of the jet's engines and Jack relentlessly tapping his fingertips on the armrest of his chair are the only things heard within the cabin. Quinn focuses once again on the folder in front of them, on the pictures that have spilled out onto the table. These are pictures of familiar faces, candid hockey shots and more domestic shots from a packhouse somewhere in Nova Scotia. This is a pack that runs the hockey world, a world Quinn’s known his entire life, yet never imagined like this.
Beside him Jack’s fidgety and uncharacteristically quiet, wearing a look Quinn knows all too well. The look of the competitive athlete Quinn helped raise, an omega ready to fight for his place in a pack he’s never even met in full yet. But there’s something on the line now, something Jack’s never had to fight for before, the status of an omega leader. For the first time in his life Quinn realizes there is something that might tear them apart.
The chime of the seatbelt sign echoes through the cabin and the pilot's smooth voice follows over the intercom, interrupting Quinn’s thoughts and announcing their descent into New York and whatever’s waiting for them below.
Quinn closes the folder, paper has never felt heavier than it does at this moment. He looks out the window as the clouds part to show the foggy Manhattan skyline. This won’t be the first time he and Jack play for different teams, but this will be a whole new battle. A battle Quinn doesn’t even want to win, but Jack will never believe that.