unbound // jk ⬖ spiderman

p r o l o g u e

⚛︎

2005

With eight long legs, the dark spider crawled up from beneath the front door into the dim living room. The downpour outside fell heavily onto the roof of the urban home. Oceanic waves crashed against the shore.

The family waited anxiously on the couch.

"We have to go, now," Father held the dark leather satchel tightly, his knuckles almost white.

"Dear," She spoke softly though her voice trembled.

Father saw the fear in her eyes, "Our flight is leaving soon."

He looked down at the young boy mother held tightly against her chest while her hand gently caressed his dark hair. The boy's bangs fell onto his large eyes, dark pupils filled with confusion.

"What is going on, appa?" Young child, arms hugging his mother tightly.

"Just business mother and father have to take care of," Father couldn't look into his son's innocent eyes as he spoke, "Not to worry, Jungkook."

A distant rumble of thunder made the boy jump, "I'm scared, eomma..."

Mother looked at her husband with tearful eyes, yet all he could think of was the content of his satchel.

"We have to go," Father repeated and reached to grab his coat, "Now."

A tear streamed down her cheek as she zipped Jungkook's coat on. Her hands gently cupped her child's face, his countenance the same shade of confusion.

"I love you," Mother pressed her lips on his pale forehead, her kiss on dark bangs.

Jungkook didn't say a thing, he stood frozen as she stood up and took his hand.

He witnessed her worry filled expression when she strapped him into the car seat, how her hands shook as she did so. He saw his father tuck in one small Iron Man suitcase into the seat beside him, it made him wonder why they were only bringing his suitcase.

Mother gave him Goom, a worn out sheep toy which he had owned as long as he could remember. In the anxiety, small hands held tightly onto the sheep.

The Hyundai's engine rumbled as they took off down the driveway and into their quiet street. Shadows reflected off mother's face from the street lamps. Her eyes were watching Jungkook.

He traced the raindrops that hit the window during the dark night and lighting filled car ride. Thirty minutes of whispering, moments that carried anxiety constantly. Father was tense when he pulled to a stop at the terminal. Jungkook had rarely been to the airport, it was alien.

"Come on, honey," Mother pulled him through the white lit airport, her other hand occupied by his luggage.

For the time being, the terminals were mostly empty. The clock would strike midnight in minutes. Yet he found the same amount of confusion in the situation as hours ago.

-

Nearly 20 hours of flights and airports occurred before the family reached their destination. Jungkook fell into a deep sleep on every plane, all except the last one.

He looked out at the city the plane was descending into, such bright lights and tall buildings.

"Where are we, eomma?" The child glanced at the people all around him, their foreign appearance sending confused signals to his brain. He saw the airport signs written in a different language.

It wasn't until the family boarded the taxi that the boy put the pieces together. They were in America. The language, the people, the lights, the buildings, there was no other answer. He just didn't know where in America.