Nick chuckles, and is about to make some kind of comment about how he'd have much better ways of earning extra money, thanks, when, well. Karma happens.

He lets out a startled laugh before he can stop himself.

"Man, I'm sorry. I'm pretty sure nothing I can say would be as good of a comeback as the bird who was apparently offended on my behalf, but I could try."

Or his thumb could brush over one of the keys in his pocket that are no longer exactly his, and he could blurt out, "I'm going on a trip with Lyall, and I'm pretty sure I want it to mean something different than he does."

...the look on his face is remarkably similar to the one Alex'd just had.