Hadn't he just been relaxing at home, in safety and comfort? Hadn't he only stepped onto the street moments ago?

No. He had been looking for this. Who was he fooling? He had left his apartment in search of trouble, and now he had found it. In fact, this was exactly what he wanted. He was happy. This was great. He'd come out of the building knowing that inspiration was going to sock him as soon as he looked around. The first thing he saw was a patron leaving the Italian restaraunt on the other side of the street, so he started swearing at the man in fake Italian: poni-oni-oni,dumbshit-ini,la-la-basketoli! This was apparently what inspiration wanted from him, because the man froze as if hit with a flying quarter. Seizing the opportunity, he wrestled a coin out of his pants pocket and hurled it across the street where it hit the recipient of fake Italian right in the lip. Now the man was confused. He crossed the street and headed straight for him.