What's selfish about wanting people to have their lives?!

[Both of them seem to have forgotten they're in public. At this point Percy's also risen to his feet and is facing the son of Hades, definitely looking... well, angry.]

My life isn't worth anyone losing theirs! I won't have people thinking I'm more important than they am and how do you think it makes me feel when I see people throwing themselves in the way of harm for me?! Annabeth nearly died in the Battle of Manhattan because she did that and if she did I couldn't handle it and one life is a better price to pay than five! Why can't you understand that?!