Bruce can handle manic, but it's true that he wouldn't open up to it. It's a little much for him. So he appreciates it being dialed back, and something of his reserve loosens a bit as they talk about something he has sincere interest in.

"I don't get completely outclassed very often," he admits, slightly amused that someone's trying to provoke him into something even vaguely competitive. Of course, Kirk can't know why that's funny, but to Bruce it just underscores how different things are here. He doesn't mind being shown up even due to something like timeline differences, and actually looks forward to having something logical to learn about-- in other words, not super powers.

"Want to come with me back to the lab? We don't have to, uh, start, I just need to get these samples back before they dry out."