Smoke and Mirrors ((Claude Faustus x Reader One-shot))

Smoke and Mirrors

Deep in my heart, deep in my mind

Take me away, take me away

A mistake. That's what you were. For your whole life you'd been weak, sick, helpless. You couldn't work or do anything on your own for that matter. Carrying yourself on the streets of the East End like a stray dog looking for an owner, that's what you'd been doing every single day since the age of ten, when your family dumped you.

It felt as if life itself was over. You, a young woman of twenty years old, couldn't live like you had been. The luck on your side ran out with each passing second, and you knew that soon enough it'd be over. No medicine, no nurse, nothing. Nobody to help or care for you, nobody to love you properly.

Nobody until Earl Trancy of the Trancy household found you on the street, and being in one of his rare sympathetic moods, took you in as a new maid. He declared most days that you were "utterly pathetic and useless, but far better to be around and than Hannah" which was, in all honesty, enough for you.

It'd been so long since someone had loved you, since someone even cared for your health, and those days when Alois was kind... they were the highlights of your life.

 This is my word

 Dream maker, life taker

Open up my mind

Highlights they were until Claude Faustus switched spots with your friend and caretaker, Hannah Anafeloz. Almost instantly his golden eyes, beautiful hair, and flawless skin took your breath away. Stuttering, mumbling, staring, blushing, all of those expressions became natural anytime the demon entered the room.

He'd brightened up your world with every touch, gaze, moment he graced you with his presence. It was clearly obvious how you felt to Claude who deemed you foolish and weak already.

It was rare for the two of you to speak other than an occasional "yes", "no", or "thank you", but you couldn't resist. As the demon rolled in with a cart of tea and daily dose of medicine, you curled your pale, thin lips up and stared at the ceiling in order to prevent becoming distracted by his appearance.

"C-Claude," You muttered.

"Yes, (first name)?"

Carefully, nervously, you gulped and thought of what to say. "Ar-Am-Do you enjoy taking care of me? Aren't you tired of doing so?" A cold sweat began running down your forehead, and in an embarrassed fashion, you chewed on your bottom lip, already sore from being attack ruthlessly by your teeth so many times before.

The demon scooped up your medicine with a spoon, along with a mixture of yogurt, and place his free hand under your chin. Bending down, grazing your forehead with his soft lips, he smiled and nodded.

"It really is pointless since you're going to perish very soon. Every day the sand in the timer depletes." Claude whispered, moving to your ear, blowing hot breath on the lobe.

The words he spoke were muffled and like a dream to you, your senses too busy enjoying the new and pleasurable experience of being touched by the man of your dreams. Did it really matter anyways? Your life was going to indeed end soon, and any moment not enjoyed now, well that would be a waste of time.