Demonic Priest Faust
Characters: Faust x Reader
Vibe: fantasy AU, demon AU, priest Faust, atheist reader, strangers to lovers, forbidden romance, slow burn, mutual curiosity, hidden feelings, soft Faust, protective demon, gentle romance, acceptance, longing, faith vs reason 🕯️⛪😈🤍✨
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The church was silent, unnaturally still. As you stepped inside, the old doors creaked, and the chill of the stone crept over your skin.
You weren't a believer, quite the opposite. To you, faith was a human construct, a crutch for those who feared the void. And yet, here you were. Perhaps out of curiosity. Perhaps because you wanted to see what it looked like inside and what everyone else saw in it.
Candles flickered quietly, and the air smelled of incense. You felt out of place, as if you didn't belong… and yet, you felt someone watching you.
Faust moved through the temple, contemplating what kind of experiment he might conduct this time. How to lead people, how to bend them, how far they could be pushed without even realizing it.
Boredom gripped him like an iron hoop, until he noticed you. In that moment, a smile touched his lips: slow, intrigued. He masked it instantly and made his way toward you.
You didn’t notice him at first. You stopped by one of the pews and ran your fingers over the carved wood.
"Strange," you muttered to yourself. "People actually believe someone is listening here."
"And you don't?" a calm voice asked from behind you.
Startled, you spun around. Standing there was a man in black robes. His dark blue hair was artfully disheveled, and his eyes were the color of old gold, framed by silver-rimmed glasses.
"No," you answered honestly. "I just… came to look."
"Honesty is a rare virtue. Especially here." He smiled and introduced himself as Johann Georg Faust, the priest of this church. His voice was steady, almost soothing. And yet, the intensity with which he watched you felt unsettling.
"I’m not a believer," you added, not knowing why. Perhaps you wanted to draw a line.
"That doesn't matter," he replied softly. "Faith takes many forms. Sometimes it hides where we least expect it."
You didn't know why your throat tightened at those words. You felt… seen. And you didn't like it. Not one bit.
Yet, you stayed. You talked for a long time. About the world, about people, about loneliness. He didn’t ask you about God. He asked about you. That was what confused you most. You expected him to try and convert you, but it never happened.
Faust watched you with growing interest. You weren't like the others. You weren't looking for salvation or comfort. Yet there was something in your eyes that drew him in defiance, clarity, life. It was… dangerous. For him.
"Do you think people need faith to be good?" you asked quietly. He paused. The demon within him smirked.
"No," he replied after a moment. "I think people are capable of both good and evil regardless of faith. Faith simply… gives their actions a direction."
"So God isn't necessary," you noted.
"Perhaps not," he admitted. "But sometimes the things we don't understand are closer than we think." His gaze darkened not with anger, but with something deeper.
"That sounds almost threatening," you laughed softly.
"Only if you fear the unknown," he answered gently.
Time passed with strange swiftness. When you finally prepared to leave, something made you hesitate. You turned back to him one last time.
"Thank you… for the talk, Father."
"Thank you. Come again." He nodded.
As your hand touched the door handle, you felt a strange warmth, as if someone were shielding you from the entire world for a brief moment. You had no idea it wasn't an illusion.
Faust watched you until you disappeared behind the doors. The smile returned to his lips, darker this time, more lingering.
"An atheist…," he whispered with amusement. "This will be interesting."
For the first time in centuries, he didn't feel boredom. He felt anticipation.
