You Know You Love Me

AU-where they're soft and loving

**This is a quick AU where they're both uncharacteristically soft and loving.**

    The princess knew she wasn’t supposed to, but an invisible force dragged her to the open window. It forced her to watch the startled birds shoot into the sky, hollering warnings to their fellow birds of a feather. She was forced to watch the swish of nerve-ridden trees, teetering anxiously from side to side. She was forced to watch the massive, mangy man, if you could even call him a man, emerge from the cover of the trees, scratching at his chin.

    The man, if you could even call him a man, seemed to be looking straight at her. A slight smile crept across his face. She ducked behind the cover of a silk curtain to avoid that smile, only to peep back around the curtain to see it again. He was still smiling as he carefully tiptoed around buildings. Villagers screamed and fled, but he was very careful not to step on them.

    She picked up her overflowing dress skirt and quickly ran to her bedroom door. She locked her door and scurried back to the window. 

    Bonk, bonk, bonk. “Your Royal Highness, may you open the door please?” 

    “I’m changing!” she called pointedly despite the fact she was already fully dressed. 

    “But the beast is back!” the knight behind the door protested. 

    “Oooooh Princess, I’m afraid if ye dun’ come with me, then there’s gonna be sum consequences for yer peewee village.” Her attention was turned back to the window where an eye was staring at her. 

    Bonk, bonk, bonk, bonk, bonk. “PRINCESS!” the knight aggressively wiggled at the door knob.  

    Drawing her best acting skills, she spoke, “I...I...I must protect my village. I'm sorry, but it's my duty.” 

            “You can't trust the beast. Just because he hasn't killed you before, doesn't mean he won't kill you now and level the village.” the knight warned. 

            “Yer precious princess and village will be fine, if only she comes with me,” the man, if you could even call him a man, promised. 

            “I fear I must go,” she waddled to the window, and in one, practiced motion, she blindly stepped out of it. A large hand wrapped around her before she could begin to fall. He carefully tiptoed past her village, and when they were out of sight, he gently placed her into an open palm. 

            “I feel underdressed, lass,” the man, if you could even call him a man, chuckled. The princess was dressed in a fine, pastel pink ballroom dress. Her black hair was twisted in a neat bun and secured by an elegant tiara. On the other hand, he was wearing battered, dull colored cloths. His blonde hair was fluffed up in every which way, and his chin was dotted with stubby hairs. 

            “I was supposed to attend a ball tonight to meet some other bachelors,” she sighed, “We've gotta stop doing this.” 

            “Ye’d rather meet new men than spend time with me?” Pouted the man, if you could even call him a man. Most would call him a beast. His own kind called each other giants. The princess called him Lachlan, and Lachlan called her Pret.

            “Hey now...don't be like that. That's not what I meant.” Pret objected, “Of course I'd rather be here with you. We just need to find a better way to meet. People are getting suspicious, and I'm running out of lies for why the giant keeps kidnapping me and returning me in a better condition than when I left...Maybe I should just tell my parents.” 

            “Nuh-uh. We both know yer gonna get in a lot o’ trouble, and...I don't want ye gettin’ in any trouble because o’ me.” Lachlan huffed. 

            “So? I still feel like I'm lying to my folks by pretending to go man-shopping when I already found my king.” she rubbed at the rough flesh of his palm. 

            “I'm na’ fit t’be a king, Pret. I'm a giant. Yer people are humans. Yer a human! Gods, what am I doin’? I really do love ye, lass, but maybe it's best if ye actually find a proper king for ye ‘n’ yer people.” he looked down to his dirty, scuffed up feet. 

            “Don't talk like that,” she hissed, “I can just...run away.”

            “Someone has t’take tha throne, and ye don't have any siblings,” he objected.

    “My cousin would make a much better ruler than I ever would anyway,” she insisted. 

    “I’m sorry, love? Did ye hear that? Did ye hear someone talkin’ negatively ‘bout m’human? Was it somethin’ ‘bout m’human na’ bein’ good enough for somethin’? I think I’m gonna have t’eat ‘em if they say one more poor thing ‘bout m’human.” he lifted her closer to his face, drawing his lips back in a challenging snarl. 

    “You’re a doofus, and I love you for it,” she carefully rose to her feet and planted her lips on his upper lip in a kiss.