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

Chapter 82: The Smoldering Fuse

I sighed, but a small smile tugged at my lips.

No matter how much he teased me, I couldn't be mad.

Not when the warmth of the morning wrapped around us like this.

Not when I could see the peace settling in his shoulders, the weight of the past finally lifting.

I nudged him again, this time without teasing. "We're the lucky ones, Joon."

His gaze softened. "Yeah. We really are."

And in that moment, surrounded by twinkling lights and quiet laughter, I knew we always would be.

After suffering a few more of Joon's flirting, I stood up, cracking my neck.

"Come on, let's make lunch before everyone wakes up."

Joon blinked up at me.

"You really want me to step in that kitchen?"

"Sure. If you break anything there. You can answer to Jin hyung's red neck nagging"

I smirked.

His expression immediately shifted into something guilty, and I snorted.

"Come on, just don't touch anything,"

I added, walking toward the fridge.

Joon followed, leaning against the counter as I started pulling out ingredients.

"For the record, I can cook. I'm just... accident-prone."

I shot him a look.

"You once set instant ramen on fire, Joon."

He winced. "That was one time."

"And you melted a spatula into a pan."

He cleared his throat. "Okay, that was-"

"And you somehow exploded rice in a rice cooker."

Namjoon groaned, dropping his head onto the counter.

"Alright, I get it. I am banned from the kitchen."

I chuckled as I started prepping vegetables, feeling the warmth of his presence nearby.

While I chopped, Joon talked-about life, about the Purple Hope project, about a book he read recently that had reminded him of us.

He gestured a lot when he spoke, his hands always moving, and I listened, offering small hums of acknowledgment, sometimes throwing in a teasing remark just to make him roll his eyes.

There was something about moments like these-simple, easy, wrapped in love.

Namjoon stole a piece of carrot from the cutting board, popping it into his mouth with a cheeky grin.

I flicked a piece of green onion at him in response, and he laughed, catching it before it could land on the floor.

"You really love making fun of me, huh?" he mused, eyes glinting with amusement.
I smirked.

"Of course. It's in my soulmate contract."

Joon hummed, leaning closer.

"And here I thought you just really like me."

I met his gaze. "Maybe I do."

For a second, his breath hitched, his eyes searching mine, his pupils darkening like a slow-burning fire.

The air between us thickened, charged with something unsaid yet undeniable.

His lips parted slightly, as if he was about to say something-but then he smirked.