All the way, G-man.
Tears, the very element he controlled, rolled down his white cheeks as he remembered how he had completed his quest with the death of his best friend.
Grover had been killed by one of the Furies, before they found out that Percy was innocent. Since Grover had not disappeared in a shower of gold, he could not be recovered. The myth of Orpheus and his love prohibited that.
"G –Grover," Percy whispered; even saying the name pained him, now that it's recipient was no longer living.
It had been three months since that day when Hades, his own uncle, had claimed Grover for his own.
Three months. Three hours? The pain was still fresh.
The salty tears slipped into uncharted territory as Percy started crying in earnest. How would he survive without the fun-loving satyr? Why should he have to?
"Why?" he said, banging a fist against the grave. One more bruise was added to it.
One more scar to remember of his loss.
Percy felt a hand on his shoulder, and somebody panting. "You can't go outside the borders, kid," gasped a familiar voice, which made him compose himself so that she would not see and scorn him. "The grave might be near the tree, but still, I –Percy, is that you?"
"Who else pays attention to the grave?" he said in a choked voice.
"Oh my gods, Percy, I didn't recognize you!"
Her voice was shaking, and she sat down beside him on the grass.
"I miss him so much!"
"Of course you do, and so do I," she said softly, placing a hand on his and holding it tight. "But, Percy, look, we saved the world, and –and…I'm sure he must be in Elysium, and he must be happy that we survived. Don't make it harder for him."
The raven haired boy did not say anything; he just put his head in his hands and leaned against her. She stiffened for a fraction of a second, and then put both her arms around him, letting the green eyes overflow; taking care that the grey ones didn't.
She could identify with him; she had lots of other close friends too, but for him, Grover was his best and only friend.
No, she thought. I'm his friend, too.
"Look on the bright side, Percy," she said, eyes stinging. "We've still got each other."
"That's supposed to be a bright side?"
That's it, she told herself angrily. No more mollycoddling.
"Fine," she snapped, pushing him off. "I'll just go back to bed now, because it's three in the morning, and I just wanted to be a good friend to you, but frankly, I couldn't care less."
"No! I was just joking!" he grabbed her arm. "The truth is, if you weren't here, I'd probably have...commited suicide or something?"
Annabeth let a hint of a smile grace her tear strained face as Percy got up and hugged her.
Friends.
I love you, Percy. And I'll be there for you, no matter what. If you breathe, I'll be the air. If you want, I'll steal the sun from the sky for you. But I'll be there.