Chapter Text
Tony was beginning to understand the Sandwalkers' obsession with covering their hair. His scalp felt like someone was baking it and his hair felt almost too hot to touch.
He wasn't exactly keen on going into the temple and risking insulting the Sandwalkers, but if he didn't get into the shade soon he was going to get heatstroke.
Crossing his fingers and hoping that he wasn't about to commit some unforgivable offence, Tony stepped into the stone building.
It was surprisingly cool inside. The small slits in the ceiling didn't let in much light, making it penumbral and blessedly cool. Walking a little further inside, Tony stopped short when he found himself in a large chamber with a high arched ceiling.
The painting on said ceiling was certainly beautiful, but it wasn't what had caught his attention.
Sitting on a narrow stele was an emerald about the size of his fist, set into an intricate gold... well a pendant, he supposed, though how the wearer wouldn't collapse with that rock around their neck was anyone's guess.
"The Eye of Agamotto. If you marry the Sorcerer Supreme, it will soon be yours."
Tony didn't quite whirl around. But he did turn rather swiftly.
"I'm sorry." The man smiled. "I didn't mean to startle you."
Since the man hadn't bowed, Tony didn't either.
"Oh, uh, it's alright. My apologies, am I not supposed to be in here?"
Another smile. The flowery scent of Omega reached Tony's nose when the man walked closer, colourful robes swaying around his ankles.
"Usually no. But given that you look far too overheated to be in the tents, never mind the sun, I'm willing to allow it."
Tony felt his brows rise. It wasn't exactly usual around his own lands to see an omega in charge of a temple, but then the Sandwalkers did a lot of things differently. He sketched a small bow after all.
"Thank you. I was indeed beginning to fear for my scalp. And my sanity. The heat outside is dreadful."
The man stepped even closer, surprising Tony by putting a hand to his forehead.
Tony's alpha side perked up, pleased at a content-smelling omega so close to him. Which was somewhat inappropriate, but at least not visible on the outside. Though Tony had to restrain himself from leaning into the man to smell his high collar.
"You are far too warm. You should drink a lot and stay out of the sun. And you need to cover your head, with your dark hair."
The man inclined his head in thought, hand still on Tony's forehead. Then he unknotted one of the belts around his hips, which turned out to actually be a scarf. He held it out to Tony.
"Here. Put that over your head when you go back out. And maybe ask a healer to give you some shadegrass balm if you can get hold of one. It's the hottest time of the year now, so they should have it readily on hand."
Tony found himself smiling when he took the scarf. An omega fussing over him. That hadn't happened in a long time.
"Thank you. I'll be sure to take good care of this. Where may I return it?"
"Oh, uh. You can keep it. I have too many clothes as it is."
Tony tamped down the disappointment that welled up at that. It was perfectly understandable that an omega might not want to have an unbonded alpha sniffing around their common whereabouts. He forced a smile.
"Thank you. I shall treasure your kind gift."
One dark eyebrow went up.
"As long as you use it to cover your head in the sun I won't mind if you treat it horribly."
That startled Tony into a genuine grin.
"I promise."
"Well then. I have duties to attend to now but I trust that you can find your own way back outside once you've cooled down a bit?"
Tony's grin widened.
"Trusting me not to make off with the giant jewel?"
The omega smiled in a way that made Tony think he'd said something unintentionally amusing.
"Trust me. You couldn't steal that if you tried. Have a pleasant day and please do keep out of the sun."
"I will. And thank you for the scarf. A pleasant day to you as well."
Tony thought he heard the omega say something in reply as he walked away but it was too quiet to make out. Shaking his head, he looked at the scarf in his hand in bemusement. What a strange encounter.