Submerged

~Three~

The next few days, Grover could tell that Percy was having a war with himself. He could tell by the way Percy fidgeted even more with his hands under the tables, or the way he would evert his eyes from anyone's gazes as if he was guilty.

And the empathy link helped a lot.

Percy and Grover sat looking at the waves crashing against the sand in a comforting silence until Percy broke it.

"I'm thinking of taking his offer, you know," Percy turned to Grover. "The offer of—"

"—staying down there," Grover finished, "I know,"

"How?" Percy asked. "I didn't think anyone could figure me out, or if they did they just never tried. They didn't care enough to know what I'm thinking, no one does,"

"No one did," Grover corrected, "Percy, I can't change the fact they weren't there for you then, but I'm here for you now. And I can't stop you if you truly want to go there, but think about the life you're leaving behind,"

"What? What life am I leaving behind? Face it grover, there's nothing here for me anymore. Annabeth doesn't know what to do, Jason's been acting like a jerk, and everything my fault."

"What about me? I'm here for you,"

"And how long till you leave?" Percy yelled in exasperation. "And don't try the bullshit story I've heard from everyone. Don't say you won't leave because you will. You can, you did, and you'll do it again,"

"Percy, I didn't want to leave you. But when I got back at camp you were gone," Grover tried.

"You could've come with us. Nico was there! We could have used your lord of the wild skills you know, but it's been a war. I feel like I never see you anymore. It took you a war to come, it was a war until you decided to visit your best friend. Do you have any clue why I shut myself off? Because I don't know how to convey emotions, that's why you were my best friend! Because you knew what I was thinking before I did! But you left, Grover, so why shouldn't I?"

"Percy," Grover said softly, "I'm sorry. I wanted to come back, but problems just kept coming up. I've abandoned so many things just by being here today but I knew I needed to help you. You can go down there, but you won't be any different. You'd be leaving everything behind, you'd be leaving your life behind,"

"What life?" Percy asked, his voice quiet and heartbreaking.

"The life you had, and the life you could have. Percy, I know I left, I know I wasn't there when you needed me but I'm here now. And I want to help but I can't when you are underwater thousands of miles away,"

"But I don't want to be here any longer. At least, not like this,"

"It's going to take time. You know that and I knew that when I came into this. I'm not lord of the wild anymore, I'm just normal Grover Underwood. Your best friend."

"But what if they leave me too? What if they leave more, if they just stop caring at all. I want to be happy, I really do. But it seems like when I do it's just not real. Maybe starting over is the only option,"

"Percy," Grover said, "there's a difference between starting over and giving up,"