Obsession Means Trading Cards

The air in Coulson's office blew cold and emotionless. Coulson continued in his normal level tone.

"Why do I like Captain America? Because—"he paused, noticing the look on Skye's face. "Get that smirk off your face. It's nothing like that." He grimaced, "I have his trading cards for heaven's sake."

"Sounds like an obsession to me," Skye said knowingly, smirking.

"It would. Your idea of a normal relationship is looking up the person through several government databases and then checking out their friends and family." Coulson paused and then said, "Compared to that keeping trading cards is borderline stalker."

"IT IS!"

Coulson shook his head and started again, "Captain America stands for something. It is harder and harder to know where a person should stand when everything is shifting and changing. The ground is always moving under your feet."

He continued, "Captain America stands upright through all the change, because he is standing on something: principles, an exterior idea of right and wrong that he uses to base his actions off of. Perhaps his principles are old-fashioned, but they make him who he is, and they keep him firm."

Coulson leaned forward on his desk; his passion and intensity made him seem more alive. "Even after he gained so much, he kept firm."

He looked down at his clasped hands on the desk before him. "Power corrupts, and people use it for personal gain. It is dangerous. Principles give a basis to decide what to use power for."

The blank look on Skye's face made Coulson explain, "The choice between using power for evil or good is a matter of principles. People don't do evil because they think its evil; they think it's good. The question becomes how to tell good from evil."

Coulson said, "There is a difference that is unmistakable, or else we would not consider Captain America a hero. He is merely a man with power who does neither good nor evil actions with it." Coulson continued, "He does good; therefore, he is a hero. "

Coulson paused and gathered his thoughts, "Principles determine what our choice is between good and evil, because they determine what is good and what is evil."

He looked at Skye. "Given power, what would you do?"

Coulson's gaze was piecing. Skye shifted from her slouch on the chair and leaned forward. "I think you know what I would do."

"Really?"

"Making me say it is so mature."

"Is it?"

"Fine. I'll say it." She paused for effect. "I'd save the world! Like I'm doing now." She shrugged, "In a small way, one city at a time."

Coulson asked blandly, "Like what you were doing before? With the Rising Tide?"

"Yes!" Skye's face was triumphant before Coulson's words registered, then her face fell. "I mean no. That was practice." She said hopefully.

Coulson shook his head. "You had the power. Where were your principles?"

"Fine, I understand. No need to shove it in my face."

Coulson snorted, "No you don't, not quite yet. Your principles aren't there, but you will learn. It'll just take some time."

The door opened behind them, and the atmosphere was broken as Fitz walked in looking confused. "What are you two doing in here?"

Skye smiled, "I'm learning how to walk on steady ground."

Coulson grinned back.