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

Chapter 44: Every Mark, Etched in Skin ⚠️

Then-
He grabs him.

Wraps himself around Taehyung.

Cradles him.

Grips him like he'll never let go again.

His entire body racks with sobs, his lips pressing against Taehyung's forehead over and over and over-

Like he can kiss away every wound.
Every scar.
Every nightmare.

I press my face into Taehyung's shoulder.
My own tears soak into his shirt, my hands gripping him tightly.

"You are home, baby," I whisper, voice shaking.
"You're home."

And Taehyung-
Taehyung breaks.

His body shakes, his sobs wracking through him like a storm.

His fingers clutch onto us both like he's afraid we'll disappear.

And finally-
Finally-
He lets go.

Lets go of the pain.
The fear.
The years of suffering.

And we hold him through it all.
For as long as it takes.

___________________________

Taehyung shudders in our arms, his sobs raw and broken, tearing from his throat like they've been trapped there for years.

Yoongi grips him tighter, whispering his name like a prayer, like an apology, like a vow.

I press my forehead against his shoulder, my tears soaking into his shirt, my fingers trembling where they clutch onto him like a lifeline.

And we just-
Hold him tighter.

His body feels small like this, curled into itself, shaking so violently it feels like the entire floor is trembling with him.

His hands fist into Yoongi's hoodie.
Into my sleeves.
Desperate.
Clawing.

Like he's terrified we'll disappear if he lets go.

His breath comes in sharp, uneven gasps.
Each one hits me like a knife to the ribs.
And still-
He lets himself be held.

For the first time.
The weight of it crashes over us.

Years of silence.
Years of suffering.
Years of carrying this alone.

And now-
Finally-
He's letting go.

Yoongi's grip tightens around him.

His lips press against Taehyung's temple.
His forehead.
His hair.
Over and over and over.

Like he can kiss away every scar.
Every bruise.
Every nightmare that still lingers.

His shoulders are shaking.
His breaths are uneven.

His tears slip down his face-
Silent.
Unrelenting.

And me-
I can't stop crying.

Because this-
This is what Taehyung has been carrying.

And we never knew.

"Tae."
My voice is wrecked.
Barely audible.

I squeeze him tighter, pressing my cheek against his, our tears mixing together.
"We're here, baby."

"We're here."

A whimper leaves his lips.
He presses himself further into us, curling between us, like he's trying to climb into our skin.
Like he doesn't believe we're real.

Yoongi is still shaking.

His hands ghost over Taehyung's back.
His arms.
His hair.

Like he doesn't know where to touch first.
Like he doesn't know how to make up for years of pain.