Bathes in Maple Syrup | Dancing Lobster | Moy Pomidor | Seneca's Beard | That Is So Fetch! Nikolaos had been perfectly content to leave the conversation there. He had offered the man some sage advice, pointed out the conveniently located telephone, and even wished him luck. All things considered, that was considerably more generosity than the stranger had given him. Particularly after it was suggested that his face looked as though it had been assembled in the dark.
Which, for the record, was ridiculous. He had an excellent face.
Still, the remark had earned nothing more than an amused huff. The man was clearly becoming increasingly agitated, and Nikolaos found something rather satisfying about how little effort it had taken to get him there.
He'd made it several paces down the pavement when the heated question came from behind him.
Nikolaos stopped and, for a moment, remained exactly where he was, his back to the other. His gaze drifted upward, and he exhaled slowly through his nose. Θεέ μου.
"My problem?" he repeated, one eyebrow arching as he slowly turned around. "Ahh. You want a list?"
He held up one finger. "First, too much paperwork to be in this country."
A second finger joined the first. "Second, British Ministry is..." He paused, searching for an appropriately diplomatic English word. None immediately presented themselves. "...disaster."
"And now, you." As a third finger lifted, his expression suggested that this particular problem was by far the most unnecessary of the three. "Acting like big idiot, standing where you should not in front of door, cannot find your date, keep talking when I walk away to mind my own business."
Nikolaos lowered his hand, apparently satisfied with his assessment. "There. My problems."
The hand slipped into his pocket, and the Greek's posture relaxed into one of casual indifference. He could have left it at that. Probably should have, actually. But Nikolaos had never been particularly inclined to surrender the last word, especially when the opportunity to further aggravate someone presented itself so conveniently.
"You always this angry, or only when handsome man is in front of you?"
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