TW; mentions of mental health
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"I just feel like...you deserve someone better than me, y'know?"

"What?"

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"𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄?" Vox's voice abruptly knocks you from your state, looking up at him through teary eyes.

Vox had woken up and walked over to you from your shared bed, glancing down at you with a curious expression.

You were perched by the bedroom's window, gazing up at the moon as you held your knees tight to your chest.

"What's wrong?" the demon sits next to you, instinctively pulling you closely to him.

You wanted to say that it was fine, that every reason that you were crying right now and on the bridge of ripping your hair out was nothing — but you couldn't lie. Not that Vox would believe you, anyway.

"D-do..." You fail to get your words out, your tears and stuffed nose getting in your way of clear speech.

Vox squeezes you tighter, tilting your chin up to meet his gaze. "Do I what, sunshine?" he says, his voice impossibly soft.
He only spoke to you like that. Not Velvette, not his co-workers, and not any other person he's ever been with. It was a version of him that he only had shown you. You were — in some way — special.

"Do you ever feel like..." you trail off to wipe your nose, clearing your throat. "You're not enough?"

Vox is silent for a moment. The truth is, yes. He has felt that. He's a big celebrity of Pentagram City, so owning his media empire and competing with rivals on the regular caused him to develop some anxiety issues, along with some symptoms of depression.

He refused to take meds, because Vox felt that if he pretended that he didn't suffer from these mental illnesses, that they'd just magically go away, right?
Fake it 'till you make it. Vox couldn't risk losing all he's worked hard for in life.

But once you came along, he suddenly felt...happier. You were the cure. You were his antidote, a loving girlfriend that saw him for who he really was — everything suddenly came into view, and he wasn't scared anymore.
You could read him like a book, and he let you. Because he loves you.

"Yes...I do," Vox said, his voice low and hushed. "Is that what you feel like?" he reaches a hand out to touch yours, pressing his lips to the top.

You give a subtle nod, your bottom lip starting to quiver.

You never felt like enough. Especially when you were around Vox. You felt like he was far above you...which he was — on the food chain, that is.

You weren't anything special, like a Goetia, or an Overlord. You were just a sinner.

So naturally, you'd come to doubt yourself often. Vox could have some hot model, like Verosika Mayday, with her graceful curves and perfect hair...

You were nothing like that. You weren't ugly...but sometimes you saw the worst in yourself when looking in the mirror.

Every wrinkle, every blemish, every flaw...

So when you looked at your reflection, that's all you saw. And that's all you'll ever see.

You were scared that one day Vox would wake up next to you, and suddenly fall out of love once he finally saw your flaws.

That one day, he'd discover his own worth and dump you, leaving you for a better woman.

It's the best...right? For him, at least.

But it hurt you. It hurt you, so, so, much.

"I guess I just feel like..." you sigh, looking away. "You deserve someone better than me, y'know?"
You pick at your nail beds, ripping off a loose cuticle.

"What?" Vox was speechless. How could you, a perfect angel, think that you didn't deserve him?

If anything, he was the one that didn't deserve you.

"Sunshine..." he tilts your head to face him, placing a loving kiss to your forehead.

"You will always been enough for me. It breaks my heart when you see yourself for anything less than you really are. You are the most perfect demoness being I've ever laid eyes on. And there's nothing I can do to adequately express what I'd do for you," he paused.

"You're my world."

You break into a smile, letting Vox's words set into the evening air.

"I love you, Vox," you reply hoarsely, squeezing his hand.

"And I love you, sunshine."

You opened your mouth to speak, but Vox put his hands around your waist and lifted you up, spinning you in a circle. You let a giggle escape your lips.

He sets you down gently, cupping your face and gingerly kissing you.

You let out a contented sigh, enjoying his faint taste of mint and coffee from the kiss.

"I swear," he assured, his eyes boring into yours. "I will always love you."

And somehow, you believed him. You weren't sure if you'd marry Vox in the distant future — or anyone, for the matter.

But even if you ended up with someone else, and if he ended up with someone else — the love he had for you would blaze eternally. As yours would, for the end of time.

"Now get back in bed," he says playfully, tugging you up from the window sill.

He lifts you up, wrapping your legs around his waist as he guides you to the bed.
Vox gets under the covers, pulling you close to him as you rest your head atop his chest, drifting off into a dazed state.

Somehow, even when Vox wasn't awake, he provided a sense of comfort to you.

As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you...

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a/n: this chapter truly, didn't have to be included in the book. i wrote it out of dedication for all readers who might be struggling with mental health illnesses.

Remember; you ARE enough.

—Angie 🥂