Archive of Our Own ^beta

Growing up he learnt there are no rewards for a job well done.

"Knowing you did the job well should be enough," his grandmother would say if he came looking for a reward. It wouldn't even necessarily have needed to be something tangible either. Just a well done, Ben, would have been enough.

So he doesn't look to be rewarded for the things he does. He acts because it is right for him to do so. He never thinks of rewards any more.

Then he meets Ray Kowalski.

And he thinks perhaps he is being given a reward after all.