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

Chapter 97: Of Blankets, Boxes, and Belonging

"You forgot one," Tae said.

Oppa raised a brow. "Which one?"

Tae leaned in and kissed him on the lips-tender, slow, and trusting. "That one's from me."

The morning turned syrup-sweet and lazy from there.

Namjoon made coffee for everyone while Jungkook served waffles like he was hosting a brunch wedding.

Hobi sat perched on the counter, swaying to the soft jazz from the speaker, laughing with Jin oppa, and occasionally sneaking strawberries off plates like a raccoon in love.

Yoongi leaned against the fridge, his fingers laced with Hobi's without looking, like their hands knew where they belonged.

Every so often, Hobi would glance at him, bite his lip, and glow.

"Yah," I whispered to Jin oppa as we sat at the breakfast table. "Those two are gonna combust soon."

"They already did," Jin oppa whispered back.

"We're just pretending we don't see it. Seems like the app is to."

Jungkook slid into the seat beside me. "I know, I can't believe how cute they are."

I turned to him, pinching his cheek.

"But you're the cutest Nurturing Phase baby ever."

He groaned and buried his face in my neck. "Why are you all like this?"

Namjoon walked by and ruffled his hair with a grin. "Because you're ours, that's why."

The whole room awww'ed in unison.

Jungkook groaned louder, but his smile betrayed him.

He looked around the kitchen-at Yoongi kissing the back of Hobi's hand, at Tae feeding Wacha a piece of fruit while Yeontan watched jealously, at Jin oppa trying to butter toast with "aesthetic elegance," and at Namjoon watching him, like he was proud.

"This," Jungkook said quietly, tucking into his waffles, "is the best morning I've had in a long time."

I smiled, leaning my head against his.

"That's because it's the start of something permanent."

He nodded. "Yeah. It really is."

The dining room filled quickly after that-plates stacked high, waffles covered in fruit, syrup, whipped cream, and affection.

Jungkook eventually took over the coffee machine, because no one trusted Namjoon not to break it, and Jin oppa tried to teach Taehyung how to "whisk with elegance", which ended in eggs on the counter and Oppa shouting, "Like this, you peasant artist!".

Hobi slid into a seat beside Yoongi, casually resting his head on the other's shoulder as if gravity had chosen his spot.

Yoongi didn't blink. Just reached up and played with the hem of Hobi's sleeve, fingers tangling slightly, gently.

My heart, I swear, physically melted.

This was more than breakfast.
This was becoming a home.

Jungkook and Namjoon sat together, and even in the loudness, the jokes, the syrup spills, there was something unshakably soft between them.

Like they had cracked open a part of themselves, and found the other inside.

Joon looked at him like he was a song he never got tired of. Jungkook answered with smiles that softened every edge.

Later, once the plates were empty and someone had started playing soft R&B from Hobi's speaker, I stepped onto the balcony for some air.