The conjunction of the spheres.
It was a sight that appeared only once every several thousand years.
Even someone as learned as Heimdall had never seen it before.
Greenwich.
Mycroft sat in the library, leafing through a work of classical literature.
Only a handful of people were in the library.
Agents in suits and glasses stood in every corner.
"Why didn't you clear everyone out?" John looked through the window and saw pedestrians still outside.
"There must be someone to witness a great miracle," Mycroft said calmly.
"Politicians, huh?" John smiled without commenting further. "You always know how to get the most out of public opinion."
"You seem different." Mycroft closed the book, set it on the table, and interlaced his fingers. "In the past, you wouldn't have asked a question like that."
"Maybe." John shrugged. "Some things have to change."
Mycroft rose, buttoned his jacket with one hand, and stood beside John, watching birds vanish as they flew across the sky.
"Our interests align. That's what makes us friends." John pointed to himself. "Wizards coming into the open."
Then he pointed to Mycroft. "The British people need heroes who can break the United States' monopoly."
Publicly, the Avengers were described as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s heroes who protected the world, but there was no denying that Americans and an organization answerable to the United States government had created the team.
Heroes born in the world's most powerful country, there to protect the world?
Intelligent people reserved judgment.
No one wanted a group of Americans charging into their country and overriding its laws in the name of justice.
The United States was the Arabs' biggest arms dealer, yet it sent people to wipe out terrorists under the banner of fighting crime?
Mycroft did not want his country to become the next New York,