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

Chapter 43: The Truth That Breaks Us ⚠️

A fist to his ribs.
The sharp, white-hot crack
of pain stealing his breath.

A blow to his jaw.
His head snaps to the side,
ears ringing, stars bursting
behind his eyes.

A kick to his stomach.
The world tilts. The air is gone.
The taste of blood on his tongue.
Copper. Sharp. Familiar.

"You should be grateful
we even feed you."
"Useless little shit."
"If you ran away,
no one would care."

A hand gripping his hair.
Yanking his head back-hard.

His throat exposed.
Breath hitching.
The sharp sting of a slap
across his cheek.

"Look at me
when I'm talking to you."

Pain.
So much pain.

Every night.
Every single night.

Taehyung gasps.
Like he's suddenly remembering how to breathe.

My hand tightens around his, anchoring him. "It's okay, baby. You don't have to-"

"I do."
His voice wavers.
But there's something stubborn underneath it.

Like he needs to get this out.
Like if he doesn't say it now, he never will.

Yoongi swallows thickly, his fingers wrapping around Taehyung's wrist, grounding him.

But his other hand-
His other hand is clenched into a fist.
So tight his knuckles go white.

He is furious.
It rolls off him in waves-a storm barely held at bay.

But he doesn't let it spill over.

Not yet.
Not when this isn't about him.
Not when Taehyung needs him to be steady.

Yoongi exhales through his nose, slow, controlled. A sharp contrast to the pure rage simmering in his eyes.

And Taehyung-Taehyung doesn't even realize.

Because he is too far gone.
He is still there.

Still sixteen.
Still alone.
Still trying to survive.

But he's not alone anymore.
He has us.

And I swear to God-
We will never let him feel that kind of loneliness again.

"My eighteenth birthday came," Taehyung murmurs, voice thick with something unreadable. "And with it... a lawyer."

Yoongi and I freeze.

The room stills, the air turns thick, and in that instant, I know-This is it.
This is where everything changes.

Taehyung lets out a bitter laugh, a sharp, hollow sound that sends a shiver down my spine.

"They looked so shocked when he showed up. Like they hadn't expected it at all."
His grip on the teddy bear tightens.

"The lawyer told me my parents did leave something for me. A will. Money. Photos. Even a diary from my mom."