Disclaimer: Not mine

An Orderly Life

At first glance, there was nothing special about Phil Coulson. Not even at the second glance did anything stand out. He was an only child, his parents, Robert and Julie, were loving parents to him. Robert was a history professor who also coached the high school football team, and Julie was a vet. They had wanted more children, but it wasn't too be. They went to Mass every Christmas and Easter and Phil played baseball in Little League. He enjoyed it and was very good with a batting average over 0.400.

Phil's secret love was everything Howling Commandos. He was a massive fan of Peggy Carter, and of course the Captain himself. For years he carefully saved and searched until he was able to buy a complete set of vintage Captain America collector cards. They were in mint condition and his pride and joy.

When Phil was eight Robert bought an old red corvette, and taught him how to tinker with it. Once he was old enough the car became his. When he was nine tragedy struck, Robert Coulson was killed in an accident on September 22, 1973. His Father's death had a massive impact on Phil and he pulled away, throwing himself into his studies. In the end, he graduated high school with top marks and moved away from his home town of Manitowoc, Wisconsin to attend University at Culver University.

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Phil had chosen a rather hard area of study but that didn't deter him. He loved history, especially World War II, for Captain America, but he also really enjoyed the old myths of gods and heroes. That love led him to what he was writing a paper on, how the old SSR, Strategic Scientific Reserve, had begun and then changed over time. A lot of people said it had ended but Phil didn't believe that and that belief had brought him to his advisor's office.

"Phil, I am telling you, this area of study will get you nowhere," Thomas tried to get him to pick any other topic, for the fourth time.

"I don't believe that. My research shows the continued activity of an agency, maybe they changed their name over time, but I am certain the old SSR is still at work."

"And if you don't find proof this could end your academic career when you fail."

"I thought it didn't matter if you proved or disproves your point in a paper sir?" Phil asked calmly. Nothing much ruffled him anymore.

"Fine. Have it your way." He finally gave up and Phil left to continue his research.

It wasn't easy finding evidence of a hidden agency influencing history but once he found one time it was easier to follow the pattern to more. He was barely twenty and didn't consider the consequences of what he was researching.

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Nick frowned as he read the report that had landed on his desk, mentally sighing as he began to read. In the end, he was impressed. Worried, but impressed. This Phil Coulson had a knack for putting things together. He put in a request for a full background check, maybe he would make a good recruit.

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Phil grabbed his bag and looked around the dorm, it was over. He'd graduated University just like his Dad had always hoped. The question was, what now? He could get a job as a history teacher, but that didn't really call to him. He felt a little lost now. He left the room and headed for Lola, he could always go home until he decided what was next.

"Phil Coulson?"

"Yes?" He looked at the rather imposing man.

"Agent Fury. I believe you are looking for a job."

"Maybe." He was curious but also wary. Fury held out a card and Phil took it, Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. "Never heard of it."

"Funny, you wrote a pretty impressive paper on us."

Phil froze in surprise. What? A paper…. his paper on the SSR and its possible successor? "Why would you want me?"

"We're always on the lookout for good agents and you seem to have a knack for data analysis. What do you say?"

Phil looked down at the card and then up at the one-eyed agent. It was crazy but… "Yes."

"Good. Report here by next Thursday." He gave him another card and then left.

Phil looked at the card, Academy of Communications, well it sounded interesting at least.

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Life at the Academy was never boring as he learnt to fight, with his hands or weapons, because even an analyst could never be assured of safety. Most of the physical training was overseen by one of the other academies, the Academy of Operations. In total, there were three specialised academies for the Division, all focusing on something different. And he finally felt like he had found somewhere he fit in. He had made several friends, including John Garrett from the Operations Academy. They got along well, Phil calm where John was fiery. He was looking forward to graduation and finding his place within the Division, maybe more out in the field than behind a computer.

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"Agent Phil Coulson, Agent Melinda May." Fury introduced and the two shook hands before he handed things over to the mission commander to begin the briefing for a retrieval operation in Sausalito. He watched the team leave, a bad feeling in his gut but he got back to work.

Melinda and Phil were sent into the coffee shop separately. Phil ordering coffee and settling in with a paper to keep watch while Melinda was the one to approach their target. He was nervous, it was his first time in the field, his gun heavy at his back as he tried to watch everything to protect his partner. That hyper-awareness allowed him to see the gun before it was fully pulled and he moved, pulling his own in order to protect her. Not that she really needed it as she reacted to Phil's movement. She grabbed the man they'd come for and threw them both over the counter for cover as Phil upended a table for cover, taking a shot.

"We need an exit." He called over the comm but there was silence. Where they hell was the commander? "May?" He called.

"Yeah?"

"I'll cover you, go." He called and then began shooting, pinning their opponent down while she ran out the back. They exchanged shots for a while before Phil heard sirens and it was obvious the man did too as he swore and went to leave but Phil shot him. "May?" He called and there was silence. He ducked out the back and soon came upon signs of a firefight. He broke into a run, not wanting to deal with the police with his partner missing. He went back to their temporary base to find the mission commander watching monitors. "Where was our exit?" Phil demanded.

"There wasn't one."

"That's not good enough!" He snarled and then grabbed a vest and gear.

"Where are you going?"

"To find my partner." He left and began searching the city for any sign of her. It took him five hours but he rented a boat and went to pull her and their target from the cold water.

"What took you so long?" She demanded as he made sure they were both rugged up in blankets.

"You didn't exactly leave breadcrumbs," he pointed out. That got a small smile from her as they headed back to dry land.

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Phil didn't mind, mostly being partnered with Melinda May, she was an excellent Agent. He'd even let her drive Lola once when it was needed. She wasn't his only partner, he occasionally got partnered with John which usually meant a lot of shooting and explosions but he'd gotten used to it over the years.

Phil was always immaculately dressed in a suit, something John teased him about, saying it made him look like an accountant but he didn't mind. He managed to stay cleaner in his suits then John in his combat gear.

Today was one of his days off and so he was at the Smithsonian, wandering the Captain America exhibit. He had never lost his hero worship for the Commandos. Two young boys caught his attention in front of the memorial for Sergeant Barnes, there didn't appear to be an adult with them which was concerning. He moved closer to be safe.

"He was a real hero too, wasn't he?" the younger whispered in awe.

"Yeah, he was," the elder answered softly as he read the highly redacted mission list.

"I think…I'd want to be more like him, the one protecting his friends, than like Captain America."

"There's nothing wrong with that Nick. Not everyone can be the leader, the one who makes the tough decisions. They always need someone to watch their back."

"He's right. Captain America changed the world. But he couldn't have done it without his best friend and the Commandos," Phil spoke up from where he was watching them. "Where are your parents?" he asked, shifting his jacket to reveal his gold badge.

The sight of his badge relaxed them a little. "Dad's in the cafeteria, he's seen the exhibit before," the elder answered politely.

"Alright then, just be careful boys."

"We will, sir."

Phil kept an eye on the two boys as they wandered through the museum, technically it was his day off but that didn't mean he couldn't keep an eye on things. Being a field agent was unlike anything he had ever imagined. That was why on his days off he came to places like this, to be reminded of why they did what they did. He smiled as he saw the two boys join an older man in the cafeteria, obviously excited to share everything they had learnt. Sometimes, seeing scenes like that made him wish for his own children. But field agents did not make good parents. And there wasn't anyone he could see himself with, May was married after all.

He headed back to his small apartment to find a message waiting for him. He hit play and then collapsed on the couch in shock. His mother had died while he was at the museum. He shakily put a call in to arrange time off for the funeral. He was officially the last of his family and it hurt. He hadn't seen her much since becoming an Agent and now she was gone. Nineteen years to the day since his Father had died.

The End