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

Chapter 93: The Stand & the Shadow ⚠️

"I know," Tae rasped.

From beside him, Joon pressed a kiss to his temple. Jin oppa's lips curved, just slightly. Yoongi gave his hand a quiet squeeze.

"No further questions," Oppa said gently, stepping back-but not before brushing his fingers across Tae's arm as he passed, just for a second.

Right after that Jiwon's parents are called into the stand.

Im Hyejin walked slowly to the stand, her hands trembling. The moment she locked eyes with Tae, tears streamed freely.

Jin oppa's tone softened.

"Mrs. Im, tell us about the night he came to your home."

"He was a baby," she said, her voice already breaking.

"He was eighteen, but he looked like he hadn't been loved in years. No shoes. Skin and bone. And when I hugged him... it was like he didn't know what comfort felt like."

Taehyung cried openly now, no longer trying to hide it.

"I wanted to take him and never let him go,"
she whispered.

Tae hiccupped. "You did."

She laughed through her tears.

"And I'd do it again. We moved to Seoul so he'd be safe. Because this is what mothers do. We protect our children."

Joon had moved closer now, his arms lightly around Taehyung from behind, anchoring him.

I was still beside him, hand locked with his, forehead pressed to his shoulder.

Yoongi knelt quietly in front of him, thumb gently brushing away his tears.

When Jin oppa asked her why she chose to testify, she said,

"Because we've been waiting. Waiting for him to be ready. Waiting for him to stand tall. And now that he is-we'll be here. Forever. Watching him rise."

Jiwon's dad, Im Sangwoo was next.
He didn't need many words.

"I love him. He's my son. I will fight to my last breath for that boy."

Taehyung crumpled into our arms.

Other Witnesses Spoke.

Mrs. Kang. The orphanage director.
The Cook who saved him from the house. The neighbors who had watched in horror.

They each shared their pieces of the puzzle-shame, regret, love, protection.

Their voices were echoes of what we already knew, Taehyung had been hurt.

But he had also been loved.
Desperately. Deeply. Relentlessly.
And now, he was fighting.

Tae sat straighter, every word from every witness like a thread stitching him back together.

Namjoon whispered affirmations into his ear. Jin oppa watched with quiet reverence, eyes never leaving him. Yoongi's presence was silent but grounding.

And I was there, wrapped around him-his comfort, his partner, his anchor.

We were his.
He was ours.

And when the last witness stepped down, silence blanketed the room.

I looked up and saw the fear in Mr. Choi's eyes.

He knew.

This was only the beginning of his downfall.

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