There was a lengthy pause before any answer came, the strange, invasive pressure in Steve's side building as Tony tried to coax the deeply lodged bullet out. When it finally came free, Iron Man's cool hand pressed firmly against the wound, the tray clattering behind Steve as Tony rushed to find a way to staunch the blood before Steve felt it dripping down his back. To inspire some confidence, he replied, "I'm keeping a tab." What the actual cost of his services was they could work out later, but it was probably exorbitant.
With the third wound cauterized and dressed, he gave Steve another gentle coaxing to lay out on his stomach. The last two were fragments again, and close to each other, hopefully making this the last extraction point. Then they would be half way done. "You're going to be paying me back for the rest of your life," Iron Man promised before taking up the forceps again, but he was thanking Steve for the work, preferring the salt of sweat to the alternative and keeping his hands busy.