Why have Eugenides go to all that trouble giving the cold shoulder, only to have him revert back to his usual self at the drop of a hat?

I thought it was that Gen was all like "Oh Sophos HATES me because I'm stealing his country and making him do all these things so I'm won't even try to be his friend." Then when Sophos finally gets fed up and shoves him, they sort of got back on the same terms they were on during Thief. At least, I think. I'm rereading, too.