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

Chapter 40: Holding It Together ⚠️

Yoongi, far too amused for my liking, simply tightens his hold around my waist and guides me toward the entrance of my apartment building. "Baby, you've been ranting about her for the last twenty minutes."

"Because it's a real problem!" I wave my free hand wildly, nearly smacking him in the process. "She's too cool, too nice, too smart-I hate it! I love it! I hate that I love it!"

Yoongi laughs, deep and warm, catching my wrist before I can accidentally punch myself in the face. "So just admit it already-you want to be her best friend."

I groan. "That's the worst part! I do! I want to hate her, but instead, I want her to braid my hair and give me life advice!"

We reach the elevator, and Yoongi presses the button, his smirk still very much intact. "Baby, I love you, but you are so dramatic when you're drunk."

I squint up at him, poking his chest. "You're just jealous because she definitely thinks I'm cool."

The elevator dings open, and he pulls me inside, chuckling as I lean into him, my limbs heavy with exhaustion and alcohol. "Oh, baby, you're so cool. The coolest. Everyone wants to be you."

I scowl, smacking his chest lightly. "Sarcasm is not appreciated."

The doors close, and I sigh, pressing my forehead against his shoulder.

Yoongi hums, rubbing slow circles on my back. "Feel better now?"

I nod against him. "Yeah."

He presses a kiss to my hair. "Good."

I sigh, body warm and heavy against his. "I'm so drunk."

"You don't say," he teases.

I slap his chest again.

And then-

The elevator doors open to our floor.

And everything changes.

At first, I don't register what I'm seeing.

Because I'm still lost in the haze of alcohol and Yoongi's warmth and my Dara Lee crisis.

But then I blink-

And I sober instantly.

Because there, curled up in front of my apartment door, is him.

Taehyung.

Crouched, head bowed, arms wrapped around something-

And it takes me a second to realize what it is.

The giant teddy bear Yoongi won for him at the amusement park.

He's clutching it tightly, fingers curled into the fabric like it's the only thing keeping him from falling apart completely.

A duffle bag lies beside him, half-open, his belongings spilling onto the floor.
And then-

I hear it.

His sobs.

Broken. Raw.

Like he's been holding them in for far too long.

My heart stops.

Yoongi stiffens beside me.

His entire body goes rigid, his breath hitching as he takes in the sight of Taehyung-

Falling apart at our doorstep.

And then-
We run.

Run towards our soulmate.

I drop to my knees first, reaching out with trembling hands. "Tae-"

The second my fingers brush his shoulder, he flinches.

He looks up-

And my soul shatters.

His face is tear-streaked, his lips parted as he gasps for breath between sobs.

But that's not what makes my chest ache.

It's the bruises.

The cuts.

The bandaids covering his lips forehead.

The deep purple beneath his eye, the scrape across his cheekbone, the way his knuckles are wrapped like he's been in a fight.

Yoongi freezes.

His breath catches.

And then-

I feel the shift in him.

The sharp inhale.

The way his fingers twitch at his sides, fists clenching.

The way his entire body goes still-like he's forcing himself to not explode.

"Tae," I whisper, voice breaking.

Taehyung hiccups, blinking up at us, dazed.
Then-

"I'm sorry," he sobs.

My heart cracks wide open.

"I-I'm so sorry," he chokes out. "I-I didn't mean to-I just-"

His fingers tighten around the teddy bear, his whole body shaking. "I didn't know where else to go."

I reach for him without hesitation, wrapping my arms around him tightly.

Yoongi is right there too, his hands firm but gentle as they find Taehyung's back, pressing him close.

We don't say anything.

We just hold him.

Hold him as his sobs shake his entire frame, as he grips onto us like he's afraid we'll disappear too.

Hold him as he buries his face into my shoulder, gasping for breath between apologies.

Hold him as Yoongi presses his lips against Taehyung's hair, his fingers clutching his shirt, his own breath shaking with restraint.

Hold him because he's here.

Because he came back.

And we don't care about the questions.

Not right now.

Not when he's so broken.

Not when he needs us.

So we just sit there, in the dim hallway, tangled together-

Three hearts, beating as one.