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

Chapter 108: Confessions, Cranes & Cosmic Chaos

His lines are slower now, less frantic.
Like he doesn't have to outrun the noise anymore.

Wacha strolls in like she owns the place, sauntering past us with the elegance of a queen on a catwalk.

She doesn't spare us a glance.

Just hops onto the wide window bench and curls into a loaf, perfectly content.

Tannie trots in after, tail wagging, but stops when he sees us.

Then-deciding we're not worth the effort-he flops dramatically onto the rug beside Tae hyung with a huff.

Hyung giggles. "He's offended you weren't impressed by his interstellar journey."

I glance at the sketch again.

"I'm impressed. It's my new phone wallpaper."

Tae hyung snorts. "You liar."

"Okay, but it should be."

He beams. And it's soft.
So soft it feels like the glow in the room just got warmer.

We don't talk much after that.
Just... sit.

The quiet settles between us like a weighted blanket.

And when he yawns and curls closer, I wrap an arm around his waist without thinking, tugging him into my side like he belongs there.

Because he does.

He sighs into the crook of my neck.

"You're good at this."

"At what?"

"This. Being... here."

And God.
That shouldn't hit the way it does.

I press a kiss to his hair. "So are you."

His breath hitches.
I don't think he expects it.
I don't think I did, either.

He tilts his face up to me, wide-eyed and open.

And for a second, I forget how to move.

I want to kiss him.
I almost do.
But I don't.

Because this moment-this quiet, sleepy, starlit thing between us-it's not about rushing.

It's about being seen.

About sitting close and laughing at banana rockets and feeling someone choose you when you weren't even asking.

So I just whisper, "Let's get you to bed."

He nods, slow and soft, and lets me help him up.

Our hands linger.
Our gazes, too.

We walk back to the living room quietly, brushing shoulders, our feet in sync.

Jimin hyung stirs when we step in, blinking sleepily from Hobi hyung's shoulder.

He sees us.
Smiles.

One of those slow, knowing grins that says he saw this coming from a mile away.

"Midnight date?" he teases, voice rough with sleep.

Tae hyung giggles and flops down beside him. "Something like that."

Jiminnie hyung's eyes twinkle, and he tugs Taehyung hyung closer like gravity's nothing.

Hobi hyung cracks one eye open and pulls me down into the cushions on his other side without ceremony.

"Where were you?" he murmurs, already half-asleep again.