Metaari doesn't move, doesn't even twitch. He can feel Merrick trembling against him, can feel how he quakes through his entire body, and it's--startling. An overwhemling need to protect suddenly hits him, which is absurd, really. Merrick is fully capable of taking care of himself, but Metaari still feels the desire to stand in front of him against anything that might come his way.

So he holds him back, one hand soothingly moving up and down his back. He tips his head back a little and nudges at Merrick's face with his nose until he can find the elf's mouth and cover it with his own again, swallowing the whimpers.