>> Take an already strong, somewhat flexible metal, and temper it as you're shaping an ever-sharper blade... <<

He's like one of those filleting knives: so sharp, you don't realize it's cut you until you see the blood.

>> But don't let it anywhere near Coulson, who can disarm thugs with a bag of flour and a disarmingly literal conversation! <<

I loved that short. It informed a lot of my characterization of him. I figure he used the flour because discharging a handgun in that small a space would've been very dangerous, especially since the bad guys were between him and the cashier. And I doubt Coulson was packing dum-dum safety rounds. So he used his de-escalation skills and martial arts to resolve the matter with minimal risk and damage.

>> Seriously, this is getting even better. <<

Yay!

>> Interests at seven or eight have become true ASSETS in his personality now. <<

That's what I wanted to do in this story, show how the things Coulson does in canon might have developed from early explorations. The shadow training in the Marine Special Operations is basically a beginner's introduction to some very advanced topics. This lays a terrific foundation for SHIELD to build upon later.

*chuckle* And Coulson trying to hack the world's foremost AI? Was asymmetric warfare.