As soon as his hands were released, Tony stretched to meet his ankle that he brought to cross over his thigh, wincing but undeterred by the twinge in his shoulder as he examined the cuff. He didn't look up until Nick was called away, and then his work only slowed as he glanced up to watch Nick's back bitterly. He could learn from his mistakes. It wouldn't happen again. Tony had no problem making sure of that, and knew how to ease General Fury's mind.
He was still fingering the metal when Nick approached again, hunched over in the bed and stared up at the man through his lashes, looking about as friendly as a cornered raccoon. He couldn't stop. Not this. "It helps, Nick. I can't," he said, clear and sure of his statement, but his gaze dropped then back to the cuff that he tucked under the blankets so he didn't have to see it anymore. He explained, "It wasn't the virus, it was the Iron Man. Without the virus it couldn't have controlled me they way I've used it. I should have seen that, I know, but it won't happen again. I'm not going near the Iron Man."