Lost Memories

Part 4; Chapter 15 - Golden Eyes

(Hey guys!! Very important A/N!!! Please read!! I already posted this on my message board, but I think it's time for me to leave Lost Memories behind after the next chapter. I've been having trouble trying to progress the story and my writing style and headcannons have changed a lot since then. I'm going to be starting on a new story eventually though. I hope you understand!)

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The air was thick as Memory lead the way towards Green and Prof- err- Nathan and Moose's friends. They felt uncomfortable. They knew the two were staring at them, they could feel the two sets of eyes on their back, and they wanted nothing more than to just teleport away. 

But they couldn't do that now, they had became friends with Sabre, and Sabre trusted them to help and not betray his friends. Memory crossed their arms to keep from hugging themselves, a futile attempt as they leaned forward into the comfort of their own hold. 

"So.." Nathan started as an attempt at conversation, causing Memory to jump ever so slightly. The Steve whipped around, eyes wide under their mask. They were grateful that the porcelain concealed their features, as they were never good at hiding them. "You good? Why are you so jumpy?" Moose then asked, raising an eyebrow, only to get elbowed by Nathan and let out a confused "hey-!"

"What he means, is that you seem kinda nervous. He's wondering if you're okay." Nathan corrected. Memory turned back around, continuing to lead. They looked up at the stars in the night sky, which reminded them of their dimension. They glanced back at the others once again, shrugging. "It's late. Just tired." Memory played off, hoping their voice wasn't quivering, or that they weren't walking too stiffly.

If Memory was to help this group, they'd want to be on their good side. Besides, they already betrayed their father by even listening to Sabre back in the Memory Dimension, so there was no turning back to even attempt getting amnesty from the villain. 

For a moment, they had stopped paying attention, and in that moment, Nathan and Moose had crept up on either side of them. Memory stifled a scream, flinching violently when Nathan's hand rested on their shoulder. Nathan stared at Memory wide-eyed and in shock. "Woah- Uh- sorry, man. I didn't mean to startle you." He said quickly, Memory only giving a small nod in return.

"We just wanted to know if you were okay?" Moose added, "you wouldn't respond to us." Memory just shook their head. "Again, it's late, and I'm tired-" "We were asking if you wanted to stop for the night and get some rest." Moose then said, causing Memory to look away in embarrassment. "..yeah. Sure." They replied.

The group moved to set up a small camp around a tree, setting out sleeping bags and a torch- putting it away from the tree to not catch it on fire in the middle of the night. Memory stared up at the stars silently, the bright glowing orbs thousands of light years away staring back. It was funny, he thought, that there were so many Steves who lived their lives believing that the stars were just little dots a part of the day and night cycle, but all those stars were just as big, if not even larger than the sun in the sky.

They felt a bit of fear as they stared up at what was way larger than themselves. It all seemed so small from so far away, which made them feel even more alone and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and they knew their father was bent on destroying all of it.

Memory had always felt alone. Well, at least for most of their life. There were distant memories of family, of laughter and joy. Days that were peaceful, days that were fun and weren't full of arguments and strife. Times where they could laugh and play with their older cousins, times where their father wasn't angry or hurt by his brother. They sighed and closed their eyes. They didn't want this universe to fall into darkness. They didn't want to progress towards nothing.

Memory couldn't help but feel almost content with that thought as they fell asleep.

The next morning, the new trio set out to find the others, Memory in the lead once again, despite their mind screaming at them to stop and escape. The Steve tuned out the voices chatting behind them as they kept to their own thoughts, noting how their behavior last night might've just given off Memory wanting to be left alone.

"Oh, hey, there's that tree stump!" Moose said, pointing. Memory looked back to Moose, then followed his gaze, nodding. "Your friends are nearby, though it's clear they're lost. I can feel them moving west as we speak." Memory stated.

Close to an hour had passed by the time the group spotted the others. "SHARK!!" Nathan immediately yelled, running over. Moose was close behind as the two tackled the man to the ground. Memory stood back awkwardly, watching the interaction in silence.

Rainbow and Galaxy had joined the group hug, both smiling. Memory felt a bit resentful at the action. 'Why do they get to hug and act like a family when I never got a stable one in the first place?' They thought angrily, only to wave the thought away. They had messed up with their powers in the first place anyways.

The group managed to finish up their reunion, all five turning to Memory. The young Steve's head shot up, feeling all eyes on them. They nervously began backing away, taking tentative steps away from the gazes. Especially the one from those unrecalling yellow eyes.. The stare haunted Memory, reminding them of their failures.

"And that's Memory, they led us to you!" Moose said happily, Nathan adding, "They're also an introvert." The other three nodded in understanding. Memory watched Galaxy's eyes flit back to them. I know who you are. They seemed to say.

"I have to go!" Memory suddenly blurted. The faces of the group changed into confusion and worry, but Memory paid them no mind as they turned and vanished with roar of thunder.