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

Chapter 97: Of Blankets, Boxes, and Belonging

God, there's something about him lately-Yoongi hyung, I mean.

The way he moves slower when I'm around. The way our fingers brush too often to be accidents. How he calls me "Hobi" in that soft, velvet tone like it's a secret just between us.

It gets to me.
In the best way.

And the thing that got me the most?

Everyone else had clearly noticed long before I had.

Jin hyung was literally wiggling his eyebrows at me earlier like a meddling aunt in a romcom.

Y/N noona or Joonie giving me a knowing smile every time Yoongi brushed past me.

Tae-my sunshine twin-kept whispering "Hyung, you're glowing," then giggling and running away before I could answer.

And yeah... maybe I was glowing.

I felt it.

"Need help with Wacha's things?" Yoongi hyung asked me, nudging a small box labeled 'Princess' Essentials.'

"Only if you can convince her to give up the windowsill," I smirked.

"She's been guarding it like a dragon's hoard."

"I've got treats," Yoongi hyung said, pulling one from his pocket.

Of course he does.

Across the room, Taehyung was sitting cross-legged with Yeontan, who was only here for the night and already making himself at home.

Tae had packed up Wacha's toys with the dramatic flair of a museum curator, stopping every five minutes to coo at a feather wand or hold up a tattered mouse like it was a sacred relic.

"Tannie says he'd like to file a complaint,"
Tae said suddenly, eyes wide and serious.

Joonie looked up from his corner, where he was carefully stacking books. "About what?"

"Wacha has better toys. And more of them."

"Wacha has Y/N," Jin hyung added, walking in with a box full of mismatched mugs. "That's the real win."

Noona was perched on the kitchen counter, watching the circus with a soft smile and Wacha curled up in her lap like the spoiled princess she was.

She scratched under her chin while gently rocking back and forth like she was the heartbeat of this whole little universe.

"Wacha says you're all lucky she doesn't charge rent."

"Can't charge rent if you don't pay taxes,"

Kook said, popping out of the bedroom again with the fairy lights triumphantly coiled like a crown.

"Boom. Dominated."

"Oh, is that the competition now?"
Tae perked up, giving Kookie a look that screamed challenge.

"Because I organized Wacha's toys by vibe. Vibe, Kookie."

"Yeah, well, I untangled noona's emotional support lights in under ten minutes," Kook shot back. "She even called me 'hero.'"

"I call everyone 'hero' when they do things for me," Noona said helpfully, not looking up.

"Still counts!" Kook beamed.

Tae gave a mock pout, then reached over and flicked Kookie's forehead.

"Competition's still on, golden boy."

"Bring it, Vante."

I caught Y/N's eye and we both burst out laughing.

Her whole face lit up when she laughed. I couldn't help leaning into her side as she passed me another roll of tape, brushing my fingers against hers.

Her smile turned just a little softer, like she felt it too.

"You okay?" she asked quietly.

"I'm better than okay," I said, and meant it.

Because I was sitting between Yoongi hyung's warmth and Y/N's smile, with Tae humming love songs behind me, Joonie laughing deep and low like it echoed in your bones, Kook pretending to arm-wrestle a cardboard box, and Jin hyung dramatically narrating the cat's inner monologue like Wacha was royalty.

And then there was him.

Yoongi hyung.

I turned slightly and caught him watching me-eyes soft, lips curled at the corners like he knew exactly what I was thinking.

"What?" I asked, blinking.

He shrugged, brushing his pinky against mine. "Just happy."

My heart thudded like a quiet drumbeat.

"Me too," I whispered.

Across the room, Tae and Kookie were now in a full-on battle over who Y/N noona cuddled more this week.

"She made me hot chocolate and kissed my nose," Tae said, pointing.

"She tucked me in!" Kook gasped, like he was unveiling the final Uno card.

"She braided my hair while I was asleep- that's next level!" Tae shouted.

I watched them with a laugh that started deep in my belly.

Their constant back-and-forth was hilarious-and honestly, kind of adorable. They tried to act like it wasn't, but every moment between them glowed a little more lately.

The tension, the teasing, the way they always sat just a bit too close... yeah. We all saw it.

And Jungkook? He wasn't just thriving with Tae.

His bond with Joonie, Jin hyunh, Y/N noona, and Yoongi hyung had grown stronger too-quiet moments, late-night banters, and a kind of unshakable trust you only build when someone's seen you in all your storms and still stays.

Me? I've felt it with all of them too.

That slow unfurling. With Y/N noona, it's the easy intimacy of fingers brushing when we pack a box. With Tae, it's the shared laughter and stolen inside jokes. With Joon, it's that knowing smile when we talk. With Jin hyung, it's the way he looks at me like he knows exactly what I need before I say it.

But with Yoongi hyung? It's different.
Deeper. Softer.

Every time I looked at him, I felt like the ground under me stopped spinning for a second.

"I like this," I said, quietly enough that only he heard.

Yoongi hyung's gaze didn't waver. "Me too."

Noona finally had enough of Tae and Kook's bickering and finally chimed in laughing.

"Okay, okay," noona holding up both hands.

"You are both my baby boys. Now help me find Wacha's travel crate before she decides to move in with Yoongi permanently."

Wacha, to no one's surprise, was now curled beside Yoongi hyung like a loyal fluffball bodyguard.

And honestly? Same, little queen. Same.

Later, after the last box was sealed and Wacha had finally surrendered her throne, we all collapsed in a heap on the living room rug.

Joonie laid back with Tae sprawled across his legs. Kook had his head in noona's lap, one hand tapping her knee in rhythm.

Jin hyung made a crown out of packing tape and gently placed it on Wacha, who didn't even flinch-clearly used to this level of drama.

Yoongi hyung was next to me.
Closer than necessary.

And when his pinky brushed against mine again, I let it linger this time.