When Sammie awakened, she found herself alone on the bed. She reached her hand out to touch the sheets where Leon had been sleeping and found them cool to the touch. "Figures. Where the hell is he?" she muttered to herself as she sat up. She ran a brush through her hair after slipping on a tank top and faded jeans. "Shit," she whispered as she raised her arms slightly, her back was killing her this morning.
"Where is everyone?" she asked as she walked into the kitchen and found Sora sitting at the table.
"Haven't seen anyone this morning. I was about to head over to visit Merlin, see if he could teach me more magic," he said with a shrug as Sammie slipped her shoes on.
"Probably a good idea. I'm gonna go find Yuffie, Cloud, and/or Leon. Whoever I run into first. Yuffie is probably still on guard duty so I'll try there first," she said, looking at the clock as Sora rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"Have fun," Sora said, waving as she left the house.
Sammie made her way through the town, surveying the damage done by the Heartless as she searched for everyone. "Look who's up and about," Cloud said, sliding his arm around her waist as he walked up next to her.
"Morning," she said, leaning against him as they walked toward the guard tower. "Have you seen Leon?" she asked as they reached the Bailey and began to walk up the stairs.
"Nope, sorry. But since he's nowhere to be found, where were you last night anyway?" he asked, glancing over at his childhood best friend.
She shrugged. "Talking to Axel. Leon would have a hissy if he knew about it."
"Come on, you still trust him?" Cloud asked, rolling his eyes. He had a feeling that she had been with him.
"You trust me don't you?"
"Yes. You were young and foolish and turned to the darkness out of spite…"
"And so was Axel. He just didn't have anyone to help him see the light until he was in too deep. If he tries to get out now they'll have him killed," she said, cutting him off as she tried to avoid a familiar argument.
"He could have got out when we got you out," Cloud insisted as Sammie crossed her arms over her chest stubbornly.
"Just drop it Cloud. You asked where I was, I told you. Just let it go please, I don't feel like fighting with you over this," she said as they reached the top of the stairs.
"I swear it's impossible for the two of you to sneak up on anyone. I could hear you both arguing about something the entire way up the stairs," Yuffie said, glancing over at them before they even got a chance to announce their presence.
"Nothing new about us arguing," Sammie said with a chuckle as Cloud rested his head against her shoulder.
"But we always make up in the end," Cloud said, planting a playful open mouthed kiss on Sammie's neck as someone in the corner of the room snorted.
"Paws off my girl Blondie," Leon spoke up, alerting the new comers to his presence.
"She was mine before she was yours," Cloud teased tightening his grip on his best friend, not even noticing that she was wincing at the pressure on her back.
Leon frowned slightly as he walked over to them. "But if I recall correctly, she chose me," he said, holding his hand out to his girlfriend.
"Do you understand these two?" Yuffie asked, rolling her eyes at the two men standing before her.
"I don't think anyone understands those two," Sammie said with a shrug as she struggled slightly against Cloud. "Let go, that hurts," she said softly.
"Shit, sorry," Cloud said apologetically as he loosened his grip on her.
"Here, take this," Leon said, pulling a small vial out of his pocket and handing it to Sammie.
"Don't think so. That stuff makes me sleepy," she protested, handing it back to him before walking over to Yuffie who was struggling to stay awake. "Go home. I can handle the rest of the shift, it's only a few hours longer," she offered.
"You sure?" Yuffie asked, her eyes hopeful.
"Positive. Go get some sleep," Sammie said, as Leon started to protest. "Don't start Leon. I'm fine," she insisted when he placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Thank you," Yuffie said, squeezing Sammie's hand gently before heading down the stairs.
"You sure about this?" Leon asked, sitting the vial of healing potion on the desk.
"Positive. Anyways, you have the next shift in a couple hours. I just want to be alone for a while, okay," she said, glancing back at him.
Leon sighed in defeat before planting a kiss on her cheek. "Okay, fine, I give up. See you in a couple hours," he said before following Cloud out the door.
Sammie sighed in relief when she saw Leon and Cloud walk past the window and down a side alley toward the house. She leaned back as she scanned the Heartless detectors and the skies, settling in for what she hoped would be an uneventful partial shift. Time passed quickly, and she was dozing lightly when someone began to massage her shoulders. She froze and glanced over at the hand, sighing in relief when a pair of arms wrapped around her in a hug.
"You're hurt," Axel said softly, running a hand over the bandage on her left arm.
She shrugged. "I'll live. You shouldn't be here," she said, glancing over at the clock.
"I heard about the Heartless, wanted to come check on you," he said backing away slightly as she stood up.
She smiled slightly and slipped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "Why don't you just stay here, leave the Organization," she said softly.
"Xemnas had a major hissy fit when he found out you were playing double agent. I'm surprised that he hasn't come after you again yet, some of the others think that you know too much and are trying to talk him into getting rid of you if you know what I mean."
"Doesn't surprise me. Come into hiding with me," she said, laying her head against his shoulder.
"I could never live in hiding, you know that. I'll take my chances with the Organization. Just stay alert okay," he said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
She nodded. "Take care of yourself," she said, both of then unaware of the figure watching in the doorway.
He chuckled. "I'll think about it," he said, making a portal with a wave of his hand. He blew her a kiss before stepping into the black hole and disappearing.
"What the hell was that?" Leon demanded, slamming the door behind him as he announced his presence.
"Shit," Sammie muttered softly, closing her eyes, unable to believe that she had been so stupid as to not keep an eye out for him.
"Oh shit is right. You're still talking to him? What the hell is up with that? You promised that you weren't going to have any contact with him," Leon ranted, trying his best not to yell as Sammie sat down on the desk.
"I can't turn my back on him. He knew what I was, he knew I was spying on the Organization and helped me get out before things got worse. He's in danger Leon, he just won't admit it," she said softly, looking up at a very pissed Leon.
"Are you sure about that? Heartless attack last night and he shows up today to survey the damage. What makes you so sure that he wasn't behind it. Hell Sam, he attacked Sora…"
"And Sora survived didn't he?" she cut him off as she walked toward him. "If Axel had been intent on killing Sora, he would have. It doesn't matter if he's the Key Blade master or not…" she broke off with a shrug.
"Just go. Get out of my sight," Leon muttered, turning his back on her knocking the vial of healing potion to the floor, not even noticing when it shattered.
Sammie turned on her heel and ran down the steps, unable to believe that Leon was being such an ass about this. She walked blindly through the streets until she found herself at the remains of the Hollow Bastion Castle. Once inside, she made her way deep into the castle until she came across Ansem's old study. She lowered herself into the large chair and finally let the tears that she has been holding back fall, thankful for the privacy.
"Have you talked to Sammie?" Leon asked when Cloud entered the guard tower for his shift.
"Haven't seen her. Why?" Cloud asked, slightly confused.
"We fought. Axel was here when I came for my shift. I lost it. I need to go find her," he said, rubbing his eyes.
"I noticed a light on in the castle. You know she goes there when she needs to think," Cloud offered, feeling slightly guilty that he was keeping things from Leon.
"I'll try there," he said, going down the stairs and heading toward the castle. He made his way through the hallways, stopping in the doorway of the study. A faint smile crossed his face when he noticed that she was asleep with her head laying on the desk. He silently walked over to her, brushing a strand off of her face with his finger before running his thumb over her cheek. She murmured something in her sleep, instinctively moving closer to his touch. "I'm sorry," he whispered to her sleeping form before kissing her cheek.
Sammie's eyes fluttered open at the feel of his lips on her cheek. "Aren't you supposed to be pissed at me?" she asked, recognizing the person standing beside her.
Leon shrugged. "I don't know. Should I be?" he asked, sitting down on the desk as she raised her head up.
"I'm just worried about him Leon, that's all. God, does Sora even know what I was? That I was one of the ones…" she broke off with a wave of her hand at the portrait of Ansem.
"No. I mean we've hinted around it when's he's in the room and we're discussing it. He's not stupid. He probably has some idea, but nothing too concrete. Why ask? Feeling guilty?" Leon asked, rubbing her shoulders.
"I just never imagined what they were up to until… I didn't think… I just wanted out of the situation I was in, and to my sixteen year old brain that seemed the only way. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't joined ya know? Would we have still met?" she mused, reaching over and squeezing Leon's hand.
"I'm sure we would have. I met you through Cloud, he was searching for who knows what when he stumbled across you. I've never seen him so scared as when you started to spy for us," he said as Sammie sighed.
"Should I tell him?"
"It's probably better coming from you that someone else. You said that Axel knew?" he asked, this was news to him.
"Yeah. He's smarter than he looks. Of course I was closer to him than to any of the rest of them. We went through a lot together Leon. He was my light in a world that was becoming ever darker," she said softly, playing with one of Leon's hands as she spoke.
"Come on, let's get out of here," Leon said after a few minutes of silence. Sammie nodded and stood up, flicking the light off as they left the room. She was surprised when Leon reached over and took her hand as they walked home; it was unusual for Leon to show any kind of outward affection outside the privacy of their home. She smiled slightly and squeezed his hand, feeling slightly foolish and naked because she was actually unarmed.
"Hey Leon, can I talk to you?" Sora asked when the two of them walked into the house.
"Sure, why not," Leon said, glancing over at the younger boy and wondering what was on his mind.
"I'm going upstairs," Sammie said, kissing Leon's knuckles before releasing his hand and heading up the stairs.