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

Chapter 52: Steady, Sure, & Absolutely Lethal

"Namjoon," I say softly, smiling slightly, "you're kind of perfect, you know that?"

He blinks, caught off guard.

I laugh, watching the way his ears turn slightly pink. "Did I just fluster you?"

Namjoon scoffs, shaking his head. "Not a chance."

I smirk. "Sure."

He rolls his eyes but smiles, and suddenly everything feels light again.

And just like that, we fall back into easy conversation.

Talking about work. About Yoongi. About Tae. About us.

And the whole time-
Namjoon keeps choosing to be here.

Namjoon and I linger near the bar, the party buzzing around us, but it feels like we're in our own little world.

We talk about everything and nothing.
About the LoveMap team-how Ha Eun keeps everyone in check, how Jae somehow survives despite his chaos, how Trina secretly runs everything even if no one realizes it.

About Yoongi-how he's the most brilliant person we know, how he's grumpy until he's not, how he pretends to hate affection but secretly thrives on it.

About Tae-how he's probably gonna be watching the video of Namjoon on repeat, how he's been pouting all night about missing the event, how he'd absolutely steal food from Namjoon's plate the second they met.

Namjoon loves hearing about him.

I see it in the way he leans in when I talk about Tae's content, about the way he sees the world-how it's bigger, brighter, more colorful.

I see it in the way his eyes soften when I mention Tae's love for us. The way he calls us his greatest adventure, the way he throws himself fully into loving the people in his life.

And I see it in the way Namjoon wants this.

Maybe not fully yet.
Maybe not completely.

But enough to be here.
Enough to listen.
Enough to stay.

"So," I say eventually, taking a sip of my drink. "Did Yoongi pass the vibe check?"

Namjoon laughs, shaking his head. "What does that even mean?"

I smirk. "You know what it means."

He hums, considering for a moment. "I think I was the one being tested."

"Oh, absolutely."I confirm without hesitation. "Yoongi is a quiet observer. He doesn't let people in easily."

He huffs a laugh, glancing across the room where Yoongi is still sitting with the team. "I think I passed, though."

I follow his gaze-Yoongi's expression unreadable as he listens to whatever Si Woo is animatedly talking about.

But then-
Yoongi glances toward us.

And the moment their eyes meet-
Yoongi freezes.

My breath catches.
Because Yoongi is definitely flustered.

It's subtle-just the slightest widening of his eyes, the small inhale of breath, the way his fingers tighten around his glass.

But it's there.

And then-
He looks away.

Like he can't handle it.
Like he's shy.

I stare.

Then-

I laugh.

Namjoon's lips curve in a smug. "Yeah," he says, more to himself than to me. "I think I passed."