(I started writing this before my AI thing, so have some old notes at the beginning here)

I use "hurt comfort" very cautiously because I'm still not to sure if I'm using it right

But have some fluff as even more comic relief from that back to back to back angst 🙂

Also some Artino 

I'M FINALLY ON SUMMER BREAK HELL YEAH 

(‼️⚠️Just some insecurities and kinda negative self talk but not too angsty because I feel bad 🥲)

—~Third Person POV~—

Shino stood in front of his bedroom mirror, his eyes fixed on his own reflection. He couldn't help but feel self-conscious about his appearance lately. He scrutinized every detail, from his orange hair to the glowing yellow streak in it, from the golden rings in his eyes to the glowing veins on his forearms. His quirk-induced markings, once a source of pride, now felt like a constant reminder of his insecurities. He wondered why they had to glow as bright as they did and often wondered why they had such an odd nature in their shapes. He rethought every small comment about them, wondering if he could have had a better response, one that would deflect the sting of judgment he felt when asked an arrogant question.

X Shino sighed heavily, his gaze shifting to the scars that lined his body. Shino had always been naturally frail for some reason, possibly because he was a preemie, but he never really thought about it like that. But his participation in vigilantism had left its marks on him both physically and emotionally. He would virtually never leave a fight without at least a lasting scratch, that is until he started to improve, even then, it was expected for him to get a bit scarred. The weight of his experiences seemed to bear down on him, making him doubt his own worth.

Shino's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his bedroom door. It swung open, revealing Artemis, the one person that makes him feel better, yet 5,000x worse at the same time. 

Shino knew that Artemis had his own set of insecurities, that he struggled to find his own beauty. Yet Shino when looked at Artemis, he couldn't think of him as anything other than gorgeous. 

Artemis was standing in the doorway. Artemis noticed the pensive expression on Shino's face and the way he subtly tried to cover himself with his arms.

"Hey, Shino," Artemis said softly, stepping into the room and sitting at the foot of Shino's bed while Shino sat with his back against the headboard. "Is everything okay?"

Artemis reached out and started gently tracing Shino's freckles with the tip of his finger. The featherlight touch would usually calm Shino down, and help him ground himself in turbulent moments. Shino knew how much Artemis loved his freckles, how unique he found them. Shino used to think the same, but suddenly things had changed. He had focused on how unsymmetrical they made his face look. It now seemed blotchy and wrong in so many ways. 

Shino forced a smile, trying to brush off his worries and break away from his sudden urge to bat away Artemis' hand from the unsymmetrical, blotchy, wrong, defects. 

"Yeah, yeah, everything's fine," he replied, but his voice lacked conviction.

Artemis narrowed his eyes, sensing something was off. He had a way of just knowing when Shino was upset. Then again it could just be him assuming that Shino is almost always upset, in some way or another, which he his. "You know you can talk to me, right? I'm here for you."

"I'm fine, honest." Shino said, his eyes drifting back to the mirror he was previously picking himself apart with. 

"Do you just want to talk then?" Artemis asked while getting closer to Shino, holding out his arms. Shino leaning into him, wrapping his arms around Artemis' waist, feeling the softness of his sweater between his fingertips. Artemis let one of his hands softly rub Shino's back while the other pulled off his hood and gently tugged on locks of his hair. 

Shino closed his eyes and held Artemis a bit closer. 

"Your hair is really soft Shino, it feels really silky." Artemis says after a few moments of sweet silence. 

Shino just buried his face into Artemis' shirt, now feeling the soft cloth all over his face. 

"You really think so?" Shino asked, honestly surprising even himself. He'd never been the type to ask such vulnerable, telling questions.

And telling it was indeed.

It's as if a switch went off in Artemis' head, he suddenly came up with a reason as to why Shino's been acting so different, so... unnatural. 

"Shino... Do you... I want to ask this in the nicest way possible, but do you... like how you look?"  Artemis said cautiously, gently trying to pull Shino's face from his shoulder in order to read his expression. Instead Shino stayed put, but Artemis could feel his shoulder dampening. 

Shino sniffled, his tears staining Artemis' shirt. He whispered out a pained "no", voice breaking. 

"Listen... I... I don't know what I should say.. I don't want to say some cliche thing that makes you feel even worse, but I also don't want to say the wrong thing or say something that comes off the wrong way, or..." Artemis takes a pause and a deep breath. "Listen, I just want you to know how absolutely amazing you are in my eyes. You... You may not see it for yourself, but I do. And I want to help you see it for yourself, however I can." 

"But sometimes, I feel like... I'm not trying hard enough for you... Like I don't deserve you, and all you do. All the effort you put into us, our relationship, yourself, me. I feel like a lazy failure..." Shino says suddenly, his voice slightly muffled by the thick fabric of Artemis' shirt. 

Artemis cupped Shino's face in his hands, making him meet his gaze. "Shino, you don't have to change a single thing about yourself for me. You're perfect just the way you are. I love you. I can tell you think that... you don't try hard enough, but I could quite literally write an essay about how much you've done. About every time you've gone above and beyond or me and everyone else around you. I know I tell you that all the time, but that's because it's freaking true." 

Now Artemis takes Shino's face in both his hands, holding him up to stare into his eyes. Those saddened, distant look is there. One Artemis knows far too well.

"You, Shino Basca, are hands down the best thing that's ever happened to me. Meeting you has made me and my life significantly better, on so many levels. I love you. I love you so much. I'm pretty sure I love you more than the word love can even describe." Artemis adds a playful tone to the last part of the declaration, kissing the very tip of Shino's nose with the utmost softness, making Shino laugh gently. 

"Thank you." Shino whispers softly, returning the kiss, but to Artemis' lips. "I'm sure this odd thing will pass and I'll be back to normal soon enough... especially... if you give me daily validation and lots of kisses and cuddles." Shino smiles cockily, already feeling as though he won.

"Ah yes, all the kisses, cuddles, and validation are at your disposal whenever you so want them, my amazing, perfect boyfriend." Artemis giggles, kissing Shino's cheek and hugging him tighter. 

"Hell yeah I just finessed myself an unlimited supply of affection from my boyfriend." Shino whispers with a triumphant tone, also tightening his hug around Artemis.