Stigma Love's Algorithm [ A BTS x Reader Poly ]

Chapter 40: Holding It Together ⚠️

I shake my head, squeezing my eyes shut. "Everything is changing."

He stills. "Y/N-"

"I mean it, Yoongi. Work is changing, the team is changing, and he's still not here." My voice wobbles. "I don't even know where he is, if he's okay, if he's safe-"

Yoongi moves before I can finish, pulling me into his arms.

I grip his shirt tightly, burying my face into his chest. "What if he's alone, Yoongs? What if he's hurt? What if-" My voice breaks.

Yoongi strokes my hair, voice low and steady. "Tae is strong, baby."

My fingers tighten around him. "But what if he's not?"

He exhales, pulling me impossibly closer. "Then we'll be here when he's ready to stop pretending."

I let out a quiet, broken sound. "I'm scared."

"I know." He presses a kiss to my temple. "I am too, you know that"

I sniff, squeezing my eyes shut as tears fall "I just-he's our bear cub, Yoongi. He should be here."

Yoongi swallows hard. "I know."

I clutch at him, voice barely above a whisper. "What if we lose him?"

His breath hitches-but his hold on me never wavers.

Instead, he cups my face, forcing me to meet his gaze. "We won't."

I search his eyes, my own vision blurred with tears. "How do you know?"

"Because we belong to each other." His thumb brushes my cheek, wiping away a tear. "Just like you told me."

My breath catches.

"We're his soulmates, baby," he murmurs. "That bond doesn't just disappear."

I nod, swallowing against the lump in my throat.

"Do you trust him?" Yoongi asks softly.

I hesitate-then nod again. "Yes."

"Then we have to believe in him."

My chest aches. "Even when it hurts?"

His lips press against my forehead, lingering. "Especially then."

I exhale shakily, closing my eyes.

And for the first time in days, I let myself breathe.

Later that night, we're curled up on the couch, Wacha sprawled across our laps, her tiny snores filling the quiet.

Yoongi's fingers trace slow circles against my back.

I press a soft kiss to his jaw. "Thank you."
He hums. "For what?"
"For holding me together."

He pulls me closer, tucking me against his chest. "You've been holding us all this time, baby. So it's my turn"

I close my eyes, letting the warmth of him soothe the ache in my heart.

And for now-for tonight-that's enough.

___________________

Day 45

Forty-five days.

It's been forty-five days since Taehyung left.

Forty-five mornings of waking up and checking my phone, only to see nothing from him.

Forty-five nights of falling asleep with Yoongi's arms wrapped around me, both of us holding onto each other like we're afraid of slipping through the cracks.