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

Chapter 41: Warmth of the Den ⚠️

Yoongi's eyes search mine.

And I can see it-the war inside him.

Rage and guilt battling for control.

I press my forehead against his. "We have him now. That's what matters."

His breath is unsteady.

Then, after a long pause-
"We need to take time off."

I nod instantly. "Already decided."

His lips twitch slightly, the ghost of something fond beneath the exhaustion.

"You're always two steps ahead," he murmurs.

I sniff, attempting to smile. "That's my job."

His thumb brushes against my knuckles.

Then, softly-"I need him to know we're not letting go this time."

I nod, voice firm. "We won't."

He swallows hard, then- "We have to find out what happened."

I exhale. "I know."

Yoongi's eyes darken. "And we have to make them pay."

I shiver. "Yes."

Because there's no scenario where we let this go.

Whoever hurt Taehyung-whoever made him feel like he had to go through this alone-

They're going to regret it.

Yoongi exhales slowly, his anger still simmering beneath the surface.

But when I squeeze his hand again, his grip softens.

"We have him now," I whisper.

His throat bobs.

Then, voice barely above a whisper- "I just need to hold him again."

I stand, tugging his hand. "Come on."

He lets me lead him.

When we return to the bedroom, Taehyung is still curled up in bed.

He looks so small like this.

So fragile.

Yoongi climbs in carefully, slipping back into the space behind Taehyung, arms wrapping securely around him.

Taehyung stirs slightly, murmuring something incoherent, before instinctively nuzzling into Yoongi's warmth.

I slide in from the other side, brushing a hand through Taehyung's hair.

Yoongi's breath is uneven as he presses a kiss to the back of Taehyung's head.

"We've got you, baby bear" he whispers.

Taehyung doesn't wake.

But his fingers twitch-gripping Yoongi's sleeve in his sleep.

I reach for Yoongi's hand beneath the blanket.

He squeezes back.

And as I close my eyes, feeling the steady rise and fall of Taehyung's chest between us, I swear-

We are never letting him go again.

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The first thing Taehyung does when he wakes up is panic.

I feel it in the way his body tenses between us, the way his breath catches, the way his fingers clutch at the fabric of Yoongi's shirt like he doesn't know where he is.

Like he thinks this is a dream.

I shift immediately, pressing closer to him, my hand moving to cup his cheek before he can spiral.