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

Chapter 54: The Countdown || Part 1 ⚠️

My heart clenches.

She holds him for a long moment, then finally pulls back, cupping his face. "You eat enough? Are you sleeping well? Y/N and Yoongi are taking care of you, right?"

Tae blinks, completely overwhelmed. "I-yes? I think?"

Yoongi's mom smiles, patting his cheek. "Good. Now, let's eat."

From the dining table, two people watch the scene fondly-Nari's soulmates, Hannah and Jeoff.

"Nice to finally meet you, Tae Oppa," Hannah says, offering a small wave.

Jeoff grins. "Welcome to the madness."

Tae laughs softly, but I can see it in his eyes-the way he's already feeling it, the quiet kind of acceptance that sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

A place where he belongs.

Dinner is a blur of laughter, food, and conversation.

Nari and her soulmates dote on Tae endlessly, asking him a million questions, teasing him mercilessly, and making sure his plate is never empty.

Yoongi's mom switches effortlessly between scolding Yoongi, bragging about Nari's new work project, and grilling me on whether I've been getting enough sleep.

It's warm. Loud. Beautiful.

And then-when there's a lull in conversation, when everyone is settled, full and content, Yoongi sets his chopsticks down.

And we finally tell them.
Not just the simple truth.
Not just that we're filing the civil suit next week.

But more.

Enough for them to understand the weight of what Taehyung has carried alone for so long.

And the truth that matters most right now.
That we're fighting this.

That before they hear about it in the media, we wanted them to hear it from us first.

A heavy silence settles over the table.

Yoongi's mom is the first to react.

She doesn't speak-she simply reaches for Taehyung, pulling him into her arms once again.

Tae's breath hitches, and for a second, I think he might break right here.

But she just holds him, steady and sure.
"You are not alone," she murmurs, her voice fierce, unwavering.

Nari reaches over, placing a hand over Tae's, squeezing tight. "Oppa, you have us too, okay? We're family now."

Tae swallows hard, blinking rapidly.

"Family," he repeats, like the word is foreign on his tongue.

I bite my lip, reaching for his other hand, and Yoongi-silent but steady-presses a hand to Tae's back.