#hold on op is a genius reblogging everything

[talatomaz]

fear | paige dineen x fem!teen!reader

a/n: i’ve been rewatching Scorpion lately and couldn’t get this idea out of my head. this is based around 3x17. it’s a criminally underrated show and so original. also this is the first fic i’ve written in months so, sorry if it’s shit /lh

warnings: mentions of death/coma

word count: 3.1k

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reader is paige’s 18 year old daughter and sometimes helps out team scorpion but when she inadvertently inhales poisonous fumes, she soon finds herself on the brink of death, hallucinating her deepest darkest fear

i do not give you permission to repost or translate my fics on any platform - likes/reblogs are okay and are much appreciated

“Here.”

You said, placing a George Washington style hat on your younger brother’s head.

“Did you know that these are called tricorns and were referred to as-“

“Cocked hats? Yes, and they were worn not only by the aristocracy, but also as common civilian dress, and as part of military uniforms.”

You explained, interrupting Ralph as he stopped adjusting the hat and looked up at you with surprise.

“I was a history major, remember? You’re not the only one who knows things.” You joked, smiling when he did.

“So why am I wearing this tricorn?” Your genius brother asked.

“Well, you’ve got a history project due about Washington and what better way to understand his actions than by getting into his persona and pretending to be him?”

“You’ve been spending too much time around Toby.” Ralph smirked.

“Hey!”

You and your brother turned to face Happy and Toby who had just entered the garage.

“I’ll have you know that I’m a world-class behaviourist.”

“Shut it, doc.” Happy said, but there was no malice in her words.

“Where’s everyone?”

“Mum and Walter went out somewhere and Cabe’s with Allie at Sly’s desk because Sly’s asleep and drooling over himself.”

“Ew.” You said, replying to your brother.

As Happy and Toby left to find Cabe, you and Ralph continued discussing George Washington. You were both interrupted when you heard your mother’s voice.

“Morning!”

Yours and Ralph’s faces lit up when you saw she was holding a bag from Fro-Yo-Ma. Ever since Walter had got himself banned after a petty argument with the manager about a loyalty card which resulted in him having a black eye, you had all been unable to attend the establishment.

You smiled when an idea formed in your head and faced your brother once more,

“Hey, how about we sneak up to Mum whilst she’s distracted and grab our fro-yos?”

Ralph nodded in agreement and you both cautiously approached your mum who was busy telling the team that the frozen treats were for after lunch. As you both flanked your mother, you glanced over at Ralph and gave him a slight nod. Then you grabbed a tub each and began to sneak away as quietly as you came but your Mum looked at you both in confusion.

“Quick. Run, Ralph.”

Ignoring your mother’s laugh, you took a hold of Ralph’s free hand and ran back to the corner of garage you were studying in.

“I got to stop leaving them with you people.” Paige said.

Halfway through eating the frozen yogurt, you heard Cabe announce that Scorpion had a case.

Like your Mum, you weren’t a genius but you did help Scorpion anytime they were down a member, especially now since Toby had said he’d stay back to help Ralph with his project.

You were a little hurt that Ralph welcomed his help more-so than yours, despite you being the History expert, but nonetheless, you brushed it off and gathered your things to join the team’s trip to Greenland.

                ✧── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧

Arriving at the Granse World Seed Vault, you tugged at the lapels of your winter coat, trying to keep some of the warmth in you which was a large feat considering you were stuck in a blizzard in the middle of nowhere.

The winds, that could only be described as gusting, blew through your hair, further obstructing your view as you entered the building.

Moving the hair from your face, you shivered and looked up to see that the vault was desolate.

“Well, now we know why nobody ever comes out here.” Sly stated.

You all watched as Walter failed to use the key card resulting in Happy jump starting the generator using the battery from the snowcat you travelled in.

Then you all split up to go and complete your tasks.

Your Mum and Walter remained at the entrance whilst Happy started to repair the generator, Cabe went to the breakroom, Sly went to the server room and you went to find the operations centre to locate the power conduit which you needed to switch off and on again.

The dark hallway you were in suddenly brightened meaning Happy had managed to fix one of the power sources. You let out a breath of relief; you didn’t exactly welcome the idea of wandering around a pitch black vault alone where no one had been for almost a year.

You then began to cough as the vents let out some sort of yellow dust. The smell was putrid, almost making you heave.

“God, that smell is awful. So much for this being an antiseptic facility.” You groaned.

“Well, this facility self-purifies its air, but the system's been down for days, so the seeds have decayed a bit, the vents are just stirring up seed dust.” Walter said through your comms.

“Speaking of stirring up, I can only imagine what kind of trouble is being stirred up in the garage. I worry about his maturity level.”

“Mum, don’t worry. Ralph’s the most mature person I know.”

“Oh honey, I know. I was talking about Toby.”

You snickered to yourself and then stopped when you realised you’d found the Ops Centre.

“Guys, I figured out what caused the surge.”

You listened as Sly’s voice crackled through your comms.

After he had finished explaining, you spoke, “So the whole place went dark because the programmers forgot to synchronize their watches?”

“Right! But if I can get the operating system's clock lined up with Finland's, then I'll have this fixed.”

Sylvester paused for a brief moment and when he spoke again, his voice came out in a panicked whisper.

“Is anyone else getting a weird vibe? Like...like we're not alone?”

“Hey, Sly. It’s okay. Just breathe.” You said calmly before telling him to follow your breathing pattern to regulate his own.

“Good job, y/n. Sly, everything’s going to be fine. Fix the server’s clock and we’ll be out of here soon.”

You smiled at your mother’s praise and went to find the panel switch.

You enjoyed working with your Mum, loving the fact that you got to spend more time with her since starting University. But sometimes, you found yourself feeling...lonely because most of your Mum’s attention was focused on Ralph and the rest of the team.

You understood Ralph, in the broadest of terms, that was. You loved him as much as your mum and you knew her looking after Scorpion was her job but it still hurt you because you didn’t have anything in common with the rest of them.

THUD

You jumped when the door behind you slammed shut.

“Mum? I’m locked in.” You shouted out worryingly.

“It’s okay, sweetie. Our blast doors are locked too.” Your Mum said, her voice calming you with every word.

“The vault prioritizes keeping seeds safe so it must go into lockdown when it's most vulnerable, i.e. a reboot. So the doors will open in 40 minutes when the reboot is done. Everything is fine.”

Walter explained before you winced at the shriek that came through on your comms.

“Sly, what the hell?” You yelled, rubbing your ear, as if trying to sooth the pain.

“They’re in here. They’re in here.” The genius repeated as your brows furrowed in confusion.

“Sly, what’s going on?”

“Sylvester, do you copy?”

“Sly!”

You all started to shout in concern, scared for Sly’s safety, before stilling when the latter’s screams fell quiet.

“I was right. I’m not alone. It’s chickens!”

How the hell had chickens got into the seed vault? You thought to yourself.

“Hey guys. I didn’t want Sly to hear us.” Toby said.

You figured your Mum must have called him and patched him through to your comms.

You all listened as Toby explained how Sly was suffering from a psychotic break but when he commented on some yellow dust, he realised that you had all breathed in seed fungus that affected the fear centre in your brain.

You started to get even more concerned when it became apparent that Happy and Cabe were hallucinating but you were shamefully relieved that the ergot spores hadn’t affected you. You weren’t sure you wanted to experience your darkest fear, especially when you were surrounded by your Mum and the team.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, Mum. I’m not seeing or hearing anything.” You reassured her, hearing her sigh of relief.

“Okay, thank god. We’ll get you out soon enough, okay, sweetie?”

You blinked, turning around when you heard your mother’s voice behind you.

“Y/N?” Paige said through your comms.

But you just blinked again, because you could see your Mum in front of you and you couldn’t distinguish the look on her face.

“Mum, what’s wrong?” You said.

“What? Nothing’s wrong. Toby. Walt. What’s happening?” Paige said frantically.

“Y/N must have inhaled the ergot too and she’s now trapped in her false reality.” Toby explained.

“We got to get her out of there, Walter.”

Paige said, near tears, before falling silent as she watched you on the security camera. She saw you sit on a chair and converse with an imaginary Paige.

“Mum, what did I do? I’m sorry.” You said, tears forming in your eyes at your mother’s words.

“I told you, I don’t love you. Scorpion is my family. They’re geniuses and you’re not.”

“Mum, please.” Your voice broke, as you started to plead with her.

“I-I can’t watch this. I need to get her out of there. Y/N, listen to me. I am here!”

Paige ran up to the blast doors and started to bang on the reinforced steel. Her attempts, however, were futile, because she knew that the doors wouldn’t open until you, Cabe, Happy and Sly had completed your tasks.

“Paige, you have to keep it together.” Toby said.

“No, my daughter is living her worst fear and I can’t do anything to stop it.”

“I know. I want to help Happy too. But we can’t until we figure out what psychological baggage the fungus is unpacking.”

“And we might need to hurry because Sly is getting unsure of foot.”

Walter said as Paige returned to his side to see Sly having trouble keeping his balance.

“God, we need to get them out of there. The exposure seems extensive which means their blood vessels are being constricted, especially in the brain meaning-“

“Less blood flow. And less blood flow means less oxygen. And less oxygen means...coma.” Walter finished solemnly.

“We have to talk them lucid so they can finish their tasks. I’ll take Happy. Walt, you take Cabe. Ralph, you have your work cut out for you with Sly. And Paige-“

“I’ll help y/n. Y/N? Y/N, honey, if you can hear me, I need you to flip the switch on the panel next to you. Y/N?”

“Y/N!”

“I’m sorry, Mum. Please don’t yell. What did I do wrong?”

“I told you, you’re just not special so why should I waste my time with you?”

“Please, Mum. I’m sorry I’m not special enough. I’m sorry I’m not smart like everyone else. Please don’t send me away.”

Paige’s heart broke as she watched you cry on her screen.

“Y/N, I love you so much. You are special. I love you.” Paige cried, tears dropping down her face.

“Toby, it’s not working. I can’t get through to y/n!”

“Ralph and I may have come up with another idea. You need to go back to the point when these fears started and attack that seminal moment.”

“Okay, so she’s talking about not being smart enough. I can only guess that this started when I joined the team. Y/N? Baby, can you hear me?”

Paige’s voice softened as she spoke to you once more.

“Yes, Mum?” You replied, sniffling as your tears continued to fall down your face.

“Oh, honey. Just because you’re not a genius like the rest of these guys, doesn’t mean you’re not special.”

“But I’m not.”

“Y/N, yes, you are. You’ve been special since the moment you were born. Since the moment I first held you in my arms. You’re my baby, y/n. You are special in your own way.”

Your Mum grabbed your hand and held them to her heart.

“You feel that?”

“Y-Your heartbeat?” You asked, feeling the light repetitive beating under your palm.

“Yes. My heartbeat. More importantly, my heart. You are my heart, y/n. You have been for 18 years. I grew up with you. You made me into the person I am today. The person I am now. I love you so much.”

“Yes, you’re not as smart as Ralph or Walter or the rest of the team but neither am I. Y/N, you are bright, intelligent. You are twice the person I am. You care so much about everyone. Your heart is beautiful.”

Your mother gently dropped your hand in her lap and lifted her own to cradle your face.

“That’s what makes you special.” She moved to place a soft kiss on your forehead.

“Now, y/n. I’m already so proud of you but I need you to do one thing for me. I need you to turn the switch in front of you off and on again.”

Paige held her breath as she and Walter watched you slowly stand up on your shaky legs and walk over to the panel that had the power conduit switch attached to it.

“Done.” Your voice echoed on the security monitor.

“Good girl.”

“I’m kinda sleepy, Mum. I’m just going to take a quick nap.” Your voice quietened as you lay down on the floor.

“Uh, Toby. Y/N flipped the switch but she’s really sleepy and I can’t get her to wake up.”

“Oh god, Happy, Sly and Cabe are out too. They’re in comas. They need medical assistance stat or they will die.”

“Walter.” Paige whispered, unable to speak any louder due to fear of losing you.

“We can synthesize a treatment!”

Toby then explained the different seeds they needed to mix together to make the medicine whilst Ralph hacked the vault’s database to locate them.

Once Paige and Walter had manufactured oxygen tubes out of PVC pipes, they hastily made their way to the vault before stopping when they saw you unconscious on the ground.

Paige ran to your side, still holding her breath, and quickly checked for a pulse, relaxing slightly when she felt it, albeit it was weak, but it was still there. She ran her thumb against your cheek in a gentle caress and then followed Walter to the vault, passing the others, also unconscious, on their way.

Easily finding the required seeds, the duo made the medicine oil but when a chemical fire broke out, Walter stayed to put it out whilst Paige ran to give the oil to the rest of you.

She found Cabe first, then Happy and Sly. Once she had rendered them conscious, she ran off in pursuit of the Operations Centre where you were.

Carefully but quickly, she lifted your head to rest against her leg as she poured the oil beneath your tongue.

“Come on, sweetie. Wake up. Open your eyes. Please, God.” She murmured to herself.

You opened your eyes with some difficulty, wincing at the light above you.

“Mum? What happened?” You groaned, sitting up.

“Thank God, you’re okay. I thought I’d lost you.”

Ignoring your question, your Mum gathered you in her arms and hugged you tight against her.

“I love you so much, y/n.”

Hugging her back, you rested your head against the crook of her neck, “I love you too.”

“Guys, come on, we gotta go.”

You both looked up to see Happy standing at the door. With the help of your Mum, you stood up and she then grabbed your hand and you all ran back to the entrance.

                ✧── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧

You had all safely arrived back home and managed to make it in time for Sly’s debate.

You sat in the chair next to Happy, slowly falling asleep, exhausted from the ordeals of the day.

Soon after you’d left the Vault and were on your way home, the grogginess of the poisonous fungus had fully left your system, allowing you to remember your hallucination. You’d barely said more than two words on the plane ride home, unsure of the right words to say to your Mum who had undoubtedly heard your fear.

“Hey, sweetie. Stay awake for a little while longer. We’re going home. Sly’s going to look after Ralph tonight.”

Your mother said, resting her hand on your shoulder to rouse you. You nodded in response and got up, following her to her car.

Similar to the plane, the car ride was silent. Not necessarily an awkward silence, but it was far from comfortable. You felt the constant glances your Mum gave you as she drove on the quiet roads. You noticed her lips part a few times too, as if she was about to say something but then stopped herself at the last moment.

Arriving home, your Mum unlocked the door and you made a beeline to your bedroom to get changed into your nightie. As you laid in your bed, you heard a soft knock on your door.

Inviting your Mum in, you saw she had changed too. She sat on your bed, the lamp providing some light in the room.

“Honey, can we talk?”

Not waiting for an answer, she got into the bed beside you and rested against the headboard.

“I want to talk about what happened earlier.”

There was no need for her to clarify what she meant.

“Do we have to?”

“Yes, y/n, we do. It broke my heart to see you cry today. And it hurt even more to hear that I was the reason why. I’ve never ever wanted to cause you any pain and the fact that I was a part of your deepest fear just-“

When her voice faltered, you looked up to see quiet tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Mum, I’m sorry.”

“Baby, you have nothing to apologise for. I’m sorry that you felt like you weren’t special. But I meant what I said back there. You are special in your own way. Yes, I love you and Ralph in different ways but you mean so much to me. I’m surrounded by geniuses all the time, and frankly, it gets tiring. So I’m glad I have you. You bring me back down to Earth. You’re my heart and soul, y/n.”

Not knowing the right words to say, you simply lay your head against your mother’s chest and hugged her close.

“I love you, Mum.”

“I love you too, baby. I always have and I always will.”

Soon enough, both of your tears stopped and you fell asleep in her arms, her hands gently stroking your hair as she cradled you against her.

You may not have been a genius but you were smart enough to realise that no matter what, your Mum would always love you.

[flowerfan2]

Somewhere Only We Know

I noticed that there isn't a single Bruce/Bucky fic on A03... Then this happened.  Please reblog if you find it at all entertaining... there isn’t a Bucky/Bruce feed on A03 as far as I know!!

It’s written in full and will post in its entirety in the next week or so.  Enjoy.

Bruce/Bucky, M,1800 words, Chapter 1/4.  A03.

Chapter 1

Bucky comes to slowly, the chill from cryo hard to shake.  He hears soft music, and quiet voices.  When he can finally open his eyes, he scans the room for Steve, and tries not to ignore the stab of disappointment when he realizes he isn't there.

The Wakandan doctors smile gently and respectfully, but it's all medical talk for a while - they've found a way to de-trigger him, he seems to have suffered no harm in cryo, they'll run some tests as soon as he's more fully awake.  No one tells him what he actually wants to know - where is everyone?  What's happened while he's been out?  - but he can't bring himself to ask any questions, not when they are treating him so kindly, and everything feels so floaty.  It doesn't seem quite real.

After a time, when the doctors have left him to rest, there's a knock on the door.  It opens slowly to reveal a slight man with glasses.  He's got dark curly hair, graying at the edges, and looks mildly uncomfortable.

"Excuse me," the man says.  "If you're feeling up to it, may I speak with you?"

"Sure," Bucky, says, his voice hoarse.

The man comes inside and perches himself on the edge of a chair near Bucky's bed.

"I'm Dr.  Banner.  Bruce."  The man pauses, as if waiting for Bucky to figure it out - and then he does.

The Hulk.  Great.  Apparently mere mortals aren't enough to restrain Bucky.

Bruce apparently sees the distress in Bucky's eyes and a flash of embarrassment flickers across his face.  "I'm responsible for the process we're going to use to remove your triggers.  I wanted to go over the concept with you first, in case you had any concerns."

The Hulk figured out how to cure him?  Bucky groans audibly, and presses his remaining hand to his face.  Talk about jumping to conclusions.  What an ungrateful bastard he is.  They should have left him in cryo.

 "Sergeant Barnes?  Are you in pain?"

 That name again.  It's been too long since he was Sergeant of anything.  

 "Call me Bucky."  Bucky peers through his fingers at Bruce, and then blinks at himself in amazement.  "And, um, no.  I'm not in pain."  Which isn't exactly par for the course when it comes to being defrosted.

 "You sound surprised."

 "I kind of am."

 Bruce smiles, just a little thing.  "I'm glad to hear that.  Coming out of cryo can be rough, if not done right."

 Bucky considers him, this soft-spoken man who, according to popular belief, is nothing more than a rage monster.  "Any chance you had something to do with how they brought me out this time?"

 Bruce ignores his question, not impolitely, and holds up a tablet Bucky hadn't even seen.  "Let's talk about what to expect tomorrow."

 It doesn't take long - Bruce has developed some kind of biochemical process which sounds like magic, but Bucky supposes all science trends that way these days.  They pause when King T'challa comes in to wish Bucky well.  He doesn't linger, and he hands Bucky an honest to god paper letter on his way out.  "Captain Rogers asked me to see that you received this," he says, but Bucky knows.  He'd recognize Steve's handwriting anywhere.

 "Bucky?" Bruce says tentatively, as if trying out the name.  "Are you okay?"

 Bucky isn't sure how he's going to open the letter with only one hand, but he is anxious to figure it out.  "Just curious about what the hell is going on, is all."

 "No one told you?"

 Bucky feels a tremor of fear go through him as he shakes his head.

 "Everyone's fine," Bruce says quickly.  "Steve, and... everyone.  But the accords are still a problem, and the, uh, 'Team Cap' folks still can't go back to the U.S.  Other countries have relented, some have pulled back from the accords, but the States are being run by a difficult bunch right now.  So when Thor asked for Steve's help, he went."

 Bucky parses through this information.  "So Steve's not...?"

 Bruce delivers the news with a touch of wry humor.  "Not on Earth, no.  I'm very sorry."  He touches a hand briefly to where Bucky is gripping the letter from Steve.  "Why don't you read that?  Text me if you want to talk, after."  Bruce sets a fancy looking cell phone down on the table next to Bucky's head.  "This has got my number in it, and your doctors, and some of the staff.  You can ask any of us anything you want."  He grins a little.  "It's got some games, too.  In case you get bored."

 Bucky smiles back.  This guy isn't half bad, he thinks.  "Thanks."

 "You're welcome."  Bruce stands up and turns to leave the room. 

 "Wait - Doctor Banner?"

 Bruce looks embarrassed again.  "Call me Bruce, please."

 "Bruce.  How long has it been?"

 Bucky sees Bruce straighten his shoulders, as if steeling himself.  "Five years.  And a month."

 *****

Bucky allows himself a good pity sulk for a few minutes before he rips the letter open with his teeth.  Five years.  Five years to figure out how to take the grenade out of his head.  He wants to be angry at Steve for not waking him up sooner, just to shoot the shit or go save the world together or something.  But that's not what Bucky asked for.  Damn Steve and his principled sculpted abs.

 Five years.  No wonder Steve got antsy and took off with Thor.  Not that he's jealous, or anything.  Maybe Thor can get Steve to loosen up.  Bucky never really managed it.

 Finally he unfolds the letter and starts to read.

 Dear Buck,

Hopefully you're going to read this soon.  Bruce says he's really close to a cure, and I believe him.  I wish I could be there when you wake up, but trust me, Bruce is the best.  He'll make sure you're treated right.

King T'challa says he'll try to get a message to me when it's done, but I can't promise I'll be able to be in touch.  I'm working with Thor on this interplanetary peace plan (doesn't that sound crazy?) and apparently calling home isn't that simple from other worlds.  But I'll try.

In the meantime, do whatever you need to do.  I don't know how long I'll be gone, or if I'll be able to come back.  The world kind of has it out for me right now.  But you can stay in Wakanda safely as long as you want, or fly under the radar somewhere else, you've always been better at that than me.  

Even with you still fast asleep, it's hard to leave you.  But I know you're in good hands with Bruce.  He showed up about a year ago - none of us had seen him in forever, he just disappeared - and announced that he wanted to help.  Specifically, he wanted to help you.  He never really came out and said why, but Sam got him taking one night and he thinks your situation is more than just a puzzle to Bruce.  Somehow, it's something personal to him.  Anyway, given that the man is not only one of the nicest people I know, but also a genius and capable of fighting off armies single handedly, I feel okay leaving you with him.  

I've missed the shit out of you these past years.  It was hard, with you here, but not, you know?  Got under my skin, sometimes.  Clint got frustrated with me, took off for who knows where, he keeps moving around.  Natasha and Sam became pretty close, they're running some kind of super secret ops for T'challa.  Wanda's off with Vision.  They all keep in touch, there's no hard feelings.

Bucky, no matter what, I will always be so, so, grateful that you're alive.  I don't regret anything.  Don't you, either.  You've got another chance - please, live your life.  Find something (or someone) to love.  Find a way, for me, all right?

'Til the end of the line (I had to say it) -

Steve

 Bucky reads it again, and then a third time.  He realizes that his whole "safer for everyone if I just go hide out in cryo" approach may have shot them both in the foot, in a way even super soldiers may not recover from all that quickly.  But for all Steve's drama, he really doesn't think Steve's sworn off Earth forever.  And maybe now that Bucky's awake he can work out some kind of deal to get the price off Steve's head.  Damn idiot probably had some kind of moral qualms about negotiating with a government who wanted to kill his childhood friend.  Bucky doesn't have that kind of problem.

 A nurse comes in to check on him, and Bucky closes his eyes, just meaning to doze.  When he opens them it's the next morning, and Bruce is there, talking quietly with two doctors in colorful scrubs.  Bruce is wearing the same kind of clothes he had on the day before - loose gray pants and a wrinkled white linen shirt.  He looks relaxed, calm.  

 "Good morning," he says, coming over to Bucky's side.  He starts to explain, again, what they'll be doing, and Bucky pushes down his nerves.  This can't be the worst thing he's been through, not by a long shot.

 Bruce pauses, his eyes widening just a little.  He touches Bucky's arm, careful but firm.  "Bucky?"

 "Yeah?"

 "This isn't going to hurt."

 Bucky shrugs.  "No, it's fine, I can take it, I-"

 "No, I mean it.  It won't hurt."

 Bucky stares at him, remembering their conversation the day before about coming out of cryo.  "What, you got something against pain?" Bucky asks, striving for humor.

 "I do, actually."

 Bruce holds his gaze for a long moment, then squeezes his arm and steps away.  Bucky kind of wishes he would have stayed.

 Three hours, four injections, and a bunch of stressful questions later, it's over.  

 "Really?"  Bucky asks again.  The doctors and nurses have cleared out, leaving just him and Bruce in the room.  

 "Really."  Bruce stares at Bucky for a minute, and then pushes a button on the side of the bed.  Bucky holds still as the head of the bed rises, sitting him up.

 "You know," Bruce says conversationally, "there's a patio with a spectacular view on the west side of the building.  I think the cafe's still open.  They make a great tofu curry, if you like that kind of thing."

 Bucky sits himself up further, and tries to figure out if Bruce is pulling his leg.  "I don't think I've ever had tofu."

 Bruce holds out his hand and steadies Bucky as he climbs out of bed.  "They make other things too."

 "No, I, um, want to try something new."