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

Chapter 125: Breached, but Not Broken 🔥

And beside me, Yoongi finally lifts his head-shoulders square, eyes sharp again.

"Let's lock it down."

Later that night, as the sun dips and the storm slows, we find ourselves curled in the office conference room surrounded by low lights and view of the night sky.

Joonie leans against the couch, eyes closed but listening, and Jin oppa snores gently from the other end, wrapped in his coat.

Dara's typing furiously in the corner. Tae is helping out Jae with the sketching. Hobi is helping Trina edit captions. Kookie is playing soft music from his phone. Jimin is asleep with his head in oppa's lap.

Yoongi and I find ourselves alone in the side nook near the windows, away from the rest of the team.

His fingers are still hovering above his keyboard, the screen casting soft blue light on his face.

He doesn't look at me when he finally speaks.

"Sometimes I think... if I can't keep your world safe... what good am I?"

My heart shatters so quietly I almost miss it.

I turn, taking his hand gently in mine. "Yoongi..."

He finally looks at me-eyes red-rimmed but steady. Tired, but clear. There's so much pain in that one glance, I forget how to breathe for a second.

"You're not my shield," I whisper. "You're my home. You don't have to carry everything alone."

He exhales shakily, shoulders dropping. I press our foreheads together, anchoring him with every inch of myself.

"Just don't disappear on me, okay?" I whisper.

"Never," he says. Then softer, "Not even if the whole system crashes."

And Yoongi, finally calm after patching every known entry point, whispers into the silence.

"We're going to figure this out."

I squeeze his hand, but he doesn't let go of the screen just yet.

His voice drops lower, barely a breath.

"We patched everything. But I still feel them out there. Watching."

That quiet dread settles again. Not fear-something colder. A warning.

I lean in, pressing my forehead to his temple.

"Then let them watch. We're not breaking."

The code keeps ticking-mysterious, silent, waiting.

But we're waiting too.

Stronger. Together.
Even on fire.
Especially then.

___________________________

It's been a week since the breach.
Seven days of high alert.
Seven days of holding our breath.