The Glory That Is Rome (a Percy Jackson AU)

You're In Debt

       Percy was glad that the sun was starting to set. He would be heading home later, but for now, he was going out. This was usual for him, so he doubted his mother would be worried. After all, he visited the thermopolium or popinas nearly every night. On the few days he had off, he went to the Circus Maximus to watch gladiatorial contests or chariot contests, which were his favorite.  

    Percy sometimes frequented the theater with his mother, but he preferred to separate every aspect of his life as to not worry her. He was a loving son who helped put food on the table at home, a fisherman with a mouth dirtier than a latrine at the port, and an easy-going, sarcastic gambler in his free time. Percy always managed to have a lot of free time and he preferred to spend his money on the chance for more rather than offerings for the gods. 

      What have they ever done for me, Percy thought. His mother was the daughter of a patrician who fell out of the former emperor's favor. After both of her parents were poisoned, Sally was sent to live with her uncle who later died from a chariot accident. Bereaved and without money for a dowry, Sally ended up working as a midwife to support herself. It was while delivering the child of a wealthy man, she attracted his attention. After a brief affair, she found herself pregnant and in a worse situation than ever.

     Sally had managed to survive, but poverty had left a mark on Percy. As soon as he was able to earn his own wages, he did and money became as addictive as a drug to him. He then discovered that gambling was even more tantalizing. So he spent his days fishing to feed Rome, while spending his nights in the popinas of Rome, giving away his  wealth for the hope of augmenting it.

        Percy knew Sally would be eating her dinner while he visited a popina. He could enjoy her home-cooked meal, but it would probably be cold by the time he got home anyway. He shook his head to rid himself of his pang of guilt and wove through the crowded streets of Rome, avoiding stray dogs and the rubbish that littered the ground. He was in the rough part of Rome, but it was where he had always felt most at home.

      Percy reached his favorite popina, The Gorgon's Brew, and stepped inside. The bartender, a paunchy man with a red face named Dionysus, sneered at him. Percy was used to this, so he merely asked, "Can I have some watered down wine, tonight?" he asked.

       "Peter, I told you this last night," Dionysus said. "You owe me 5,000 denarii."

       The ground beneath Percy swayed as if he was already drunk.

       "What, how?" he asked.

       "Beer, gambling, wine," Dionysus said. "Not to mention the fact you got into a brawl last night with Antaeus."

      "I did?" Percy asked.

      His memory of last night was fuzzy. He could not remember much aside from visiting The Gorgon's Brew and waking up on the streets of Rome, his pouch of coins gone. 

     "You cannot buy any more drinks until you pay part of your balance," Dionysus said. "Furthermore, you better fork over 2,000 denarii in five days."

     "I don't have that kind of money!" Percy said hotly.

      "It's a pity," Dionysus said, though his eyes told another story. "It would be more of a pity if your pretty mother lost her home because of her son's irresponsibility."

    Percy felt as if he was drowning. 

    "Please, please, not my mother," he gasped like a fish left on the dusty soil of Rome. "Please, don't do that. I'll do anything."

     "Well, you're lucky then," Dionysus said, smiling. "I've arranged a deal with Gabe."

      Percy's shoulders slumped. Gabe was a wealthy man who sold slaves for a living.

    "You can sell yourself into temporary slavery and your debt will be forgiven," Dionysus said. "Or you can let the consequences fall upon your mother."

     Percy didn't really have a choice. He agreed to Dionysus's demands. There was no way he would let anyone hurt his mother; he had already caused her enough pain.