Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Unfortunately,” he said, “those recommendation letters are the best I could do. They are the only way the Olympian Council will let you work off your debt.”

Communicating underwater is complicated. I was partly translating his words from whale-song hums and clicks and partly hearing his voice telepathically in my head, so I wasn’t sure I’d understood him.

“I haven’t got any student debt,” I said. “I haven’t even been accepted yet.”

“Not student debt,” Poseidon said. “This is the debt you owe for . . . existing.”

My heart went cold as the depths we were currently in as I waited for Poseidon to explain.

But then he didn’t.

He didn’t say anything, didn’t say it was a joke, all he did was stare at me solemnly.

I wanted to rage, to scream and shout. I had gone through hell for them and it still wasn’t enough. They wanted to make me go through more hoops, more quests.

Sometimes I wish I had been able to temper Luke, wish that Luke hadn’t decided Kronos was the better option and just decided to overthrow the gods on his own.

I was done. So fucking done. And then I had a thought, and a plan worthy of Annabeth began to form.

“I want 10 million.”

Poseidon blinked clearly not expecting that, whether that's because I usually would never ask for money or because it didn’t seem relevant.

“Sorry Percy 10 million what?”

I simply raised an eyebrow.

“University of Alaska Southeast has amazing marine biology programs.”

Poseidon’s face seemed to pale as I continued talking.

“Annabeth can still go to New Rome and I can still live in New Rome, after all I’m an ex-Praetor which means I have guaranteed housing. Last I checked I can swim around Mach 5 so it might be a couple hours commute but I bet I can push myself to go faster.”

Poseidon seemed to try and speak but I interrupted him once again.
“Which means all that is left is tuition costs. And see from my perspective I’m not the one who owes a debt. You are. You and every other Olympian. If I remember correctly I got nothing for helping kill Gaia. Not to mention you have what 17 years of child support. And considering the wealth imbalance I’d say 10 million is more than reasonable.”

Finally I stopped and let Poseidon speak. “Percy please this was your dream, don’t throw it away because of Zeus.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not. I will still live in New Rome, I’ll still become a marine biologist but I won’t dance to his tune any longer. I went through hell for Olympus, literally. And this is what I get? No more, I don’t care what happens I will never raise a blade or drop of water in defense of Olympus again. I will never aid Olympus and if I have to move to Alaska to do so I will. If I even have to get the support of the Egyptian and Norse pantheons I will. Now if there is nothing else I expect 10 million in my account by the end of the day. Oh and Poseidon, don’t bother coming to find me.”

I couldn’t help but savor the shocked and pained look on Poseidon's face as I turned away from him and swam as fast I could to New Rome. After all, I had to inform Annabeth of our new plans.