「Anime x Reader One Shots」

The Heart of a Demon (Claude Faustus x Reader)

"It's the things we love the most that destroy us."

You were his weakness.

Claude's love for you was his Achilles heel. It was a strong emotion that he believed for so long was unreachable for him; something only humans were capable of feeling. Yet here you were, a mere human he served, was able to make him feel things he never did before.

He couldn't quite place why he harbored such love for you. You weren't very different from any other human he ever served. Like all people, you had your fair share of faults whether it be envy, selfishness or loathing. Without them, you would've never needed to call upon him to be at your service.

That being said, you acknowledged your flaws instead of disguising them like most humans did. You understood you weren't the strongest nor the most intelligent; these weren't things about yourself that you tried so desperately to conceal under a layer of ignorance. Like any other human, there was a darkness that lurked within you, whispering to you in an attempt to convince you to commit vile deeds. You didn't embrace your darkness nor did you dare try to suppress it. You merely acknowledged its existence.

That alone was what made you so special.

It took a little more than a year of serving you for Claude to realize that devouring your soul once the contract was fulfilled was no longer his desire. After saving you once again from another danger you found yourself in, he found it strange when his first worry wasn't the fear of losing a meal he waited so long for and instead, he feared your safety. You only ended up sustaining nothing more than a measly scratch, but that alone was enough to make his heart ache.

"Really, Claude," you sighed. "There's no need to make such a fuss over me. It's only a scratch."

As soon as you arrived back to your mansion, all you wanted was to be embraced by the gentle arms of sleep after such a strenuous day, but your bespeckled butler refused to allow you until he carefully treated the cut himself.

"It's my duty to protect you whether it be from assassins or infections," he told you, his voice as monotonous as ever. His eyes never left your arm as he carefully cleaned the small wound.

"Demon or not, you must be exhausted from rescuing me. I must insist on you taking a break once you're finished."

Claude finally tilted his head up towards your when the wound was dressed. He pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose with his gloved hand and his eyes pierced into yours. It was a look that would leave nearly anyone cowering in fear, but not you. You didn't fear this man; no, you trusted him with your life.

"Is that an order, my lady?" he drawled.

"Not if you wish differently. And how many times have I told you? Just call me [name]. You know I detest fancy titles such as that."

He didn't respond. Instead, he stood up from where he kneeled before you and made his way towards the door. It was nearly midnight by now and he could see the exhaustion clearly shown on your features. As much as you tried to stay awake, he knew it wouldn't be long until the last of your energy faded away.

"I wish you a good night... My lady."

All you remember was feeling a wave of disappointment before sleep overcame you.

Claude could never bring himself to utter your name. It didn't matter what feelings he thought he felt for you; his duty to serve you as a butler until your goal was accomplished was all he could do. It was a contract sealed by the pentagram located on the side of your body which served as a crystal clear reminder to him as to who he was and what his place was.

In the end, Claude was merely a demon infatuated with some silly, human girl. Once the contract was fulfilled on his end, he would feast on your soul and forget whatever emotions he thought he harbored for you.

Or so he thought.

Never would he have imagined that an angel was involved in the latest mystery you were trying to solve, nor did he know that it would unleash its wrath on you. You didn't even dare flinch as it sent an attack flying straight towards you, confident in Claude's abilities to protect you like always. He didn't disappoint as he appeared seemingly out of nowhere and shielded you from the attack, but a mixture of shock and fear overwhelmed you when you noticed just how much he was struggling to hold his own against the angel.

Claude Faustus, the same demon who has slain countless enemies who dared get in your way and the demon capable of catching a bullet as easily as catching a ball, was now struggling to protect you for the first time ever. Your heart clenched in fear for him as a large gash appeared on his face from the angel's sword. Pulling out the small dagger you insisted on carrying with you, you pressed the hilt of it into Claude's hand which gave him and the angel an equal footing throughout the battle.

Claude may have had a weapon of his own now, but he was still at a disadvantage that he never dared take into consideration. This angel, a being that could be considered just as cold and heartless as a demon, had no known weaknesses while the demon butler had one so obvious even the angel was able to quickly realize; a weakness standing only a few feet away.

The angel caught him off guard. Knocking him to the ground, the angel flew across the room towards where you stood, your legs feeling heavier than stone. Claude was nowhere in sight and the angel was just mere feet away from plunging its sword into your chest. There was nothing you could do.

You closed your eyes and braced for the excruciating pain that was bound to come, but it never did. Opening your eyes, your breath hitched in your chest when you saw red. Crimson splotches covered everything in sight; the floor, the walls, Claude, the angel, and even yourself.

It wasn't until both the angel and Claude collapsed to the ground did you realize what happened in just the mere second your eyes were closed. The small dagger protruded in the lifeless angel's body while Claude slowly pulled the sword out from his own body. Blood poured from his wound and he even coughed up the sickening crimson.

"Claude!" you cried as you dropped to your knees beside him, desperately trying to stop his bleeding.

His face was as emotionless as ever even when nearing his own demise. His glasses fell off during the chaos and his glassy, golden eyes stared up at yours. His bloodstained hand shakily reached up to touch your face. The second you felt his cold touch, you could no longer contain the tears. They came pouring down your face and the realization that he truly was dying finally hit you.

The demon who you knew for years; the demon who rescued you from the hell you once lived in; the demon who cared for you when no one else did. He was the only person you had left and even he was about to go.

"Please don't abandon me," you managed to choke out through your sobs.

Unshed tears shone in his eyes, that being the only emotion you ever saw from him even after all the time spent with him. It was only before his death that he would dare to express his true feelings toward you.

"I love you... [name]."