[ If asked, point blank, why he felt the need to be a little gremlin at Zhao about the man's obvious crush on Aleksander, Lockwood would be hard pressed to give a good answer. The romantic attachments of the people around him weren't something Lockwood usually spent a lot of time considering, outside the stuff that got printed in the gossip magazines. Romantic attachments in general were something Lockwood tried not to think about; especially in regards to himself.

But perhaps there was something in the façade that Zhao put up that invited a bit of childishness from the otherwise uptight youth. Whatever it was, Lockwood didn't dissect it too deeply. He just ... needled. ]

You should cook something for him. [ Lockwood suggested, all innocence and butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. ] It might not be the lavish meal you were able to share with your friend, but I'm sure that a man of your talents could put together something, comforting, from what's available.

[ 'And it would be such a romantic gesture.' ]