Fingers still lightly pressed to Merlin's jaw made it easy for Zacharias to turn his head back, so the younger man wasn't looking away. There was just something about him... something that made Zacharias want to get close and know more. He couldn't deny that. And he wasn't the type to deny things he wanted.
"Not everyone's out to hurt you, Merlin," he murmured. "Not everyone will be like that." But could words ever convince MErlin of their truth? And would he be given enough time for actions to say what words never could?
"Ah, Merlin. You could be missing out on so much, you know," he said, voice soft, before he tilted his head, just a bit, to bring their mouths together, in a barely there, feather-light kiss.