INSANE (Leo Valdez AU) **ON HIATUS**

Chapter 4: The Imperial Household

A servant escorted me to my room a few floors down from the throne room. The servant said this floor was where all members of the 'Imperial Household' resided. Aw look, Leo, it's like you're part of a family! I hated it when my mind did that. Nero is giving me a place to live and recover, if I have to join his little family so be it, I told myself. I decided to leave Festus's case in my room and walk around a bit. As I walked into the hall I noticed that there were fancy golden nameplates on all the doors. Mine says 'Leo' (obviously). I walk down the hall. The room next to mine had a nameplate that read 'Meg', next to that is 'Cassius', and then there's Aemillia and Lucius and a whole bunch of others.

This place was so shiny and clean, it was freaking me out. I needed somewhere I cou get dirty. Just then, Nero comes up behind me.

"Ah, Leo, there you are. I've been wanting to discuss something with you."

Didn't we JUST discuss stuff five minutes ago in his throne room? It seemed like he read my mind. "We did talk a bit ago, but I would like a more personal conversation. He led me back to my room and we sat down on my bed. My room was really boring. Plain white walls and ceiling, marble tiled floors, and a big window with a view of the city. Looking at it closely, I could tell it was one of those I-can-see-you-but-you-can't-see-me type of windows. The bed had plain white silk sheets and pillows and there was a bookshelf with some books that looked like they were written in... Ancient Greek? And Latin? Weird. There was a desk too, with a spinny chair. Ooh, I love spinny chairs.

Nero looked at me. "So, Leo, what do you like to do for fun?"

This caught me off guard. "Huh?"

"Do you have any special interests or hobbies? All the members of the Imperial Household do. For example, my darling Meg enjoys gardening, sword fighting, and exploring the city."

"Oh, well, I guess I'm into building stuff and mechanics."

"Like how you build that dragon?" He said, resting a hand on Festus the Suitcase.

"Um, yeah, although I don't remember it."

Nero looked at me very seriously "I am also aware that you are a demigod and possess certain... abilities."

Shoot. Am I in trouble or something? Let's play dumb.

"Whaaaat? Nah, I'm just regular old me-"

"Don't fib, Leo. I know what you can do with fire."

Damn. "What do you know?"

Nero looked at me with a pitying expression on his face. "Dear boy, only how you have been outcasted your whole life because of a power you were born with. How people saw you as a freak and a monster. Your own aunt called you the devil. But now you have a chance at a new life, away from all that. You have a home here." Nero put his arms around me for a hug. Gotta admit I was a little weirded out.

Nero let go of me and smiled with his mouth closed. "Leo, if you join my Imperial Household, you won't be outcasted anymore. You will no longer be... what did Nemesis call it? Ah, yes. The seventh wheel. You will have a family."

I was feeling a little uneasy. I didn't remember anything he was talking about, but it felt familiar. This whole 'Imperial Household' thing was kind of weird. Do I join? "Um, great offer, Mister Emperor Nero, but can I sleep on it? I'm not sure yet."

Nero patted my shoulder. "Of course. Take all the time you need. This is a hard adjustment, but I know you will find a way through." And with that he left.

Holy Whoever. THAT was an experience. I needed to clear my head. I walked out of my room and into the hall. The door next to me, the one with the nameplate that said 'Meg'. There was a girl with black hair and glasses standing in the doorway, with her arms crossed. She scowled at me.

"You're that Leo kid."

Kid? I'm older than she is. She looks twelve.

"That's me! Leo Valdez, at your service." I stuck out my hand for her to shake it, but she didn't move from the doorway. That was when I noticed the metal band on her ankle. "What is that?"

"I'm grounded." She stated as if it was incredibly obvious.

"Jeez, girl, what did you do to get house arrest?" She just glared at me some more. Okay... at least the neighbors are friendly. I decided to make small talk. "So, Nero tells me you like gardening?"

Her face hardened, like an armadillo curling up into its shell. "What does he want with you?"

"Well, he says he knows me from before I got amnesia, and he wants to help me recover and...train. I dunno what I would be training for, He also said I could join the 'Ethereal Family' or something." Meg looked at me. "It's Imperial Family, dummy." She reached her arm as far as she could out the door, and grabbed my shirt, pulling me to her door. "If I were you," She whispered in my ear, "I wouldn't." She let go of my shirt. I wanted to make some remark about not touching the merchandise, but before I could, she said "Bye." and shut the door in my face. What a charming young lady.

~🔥~

The next morning, I woke up to find breakfast sitting on my bedside table. Fried eggs and bacon. Yum? I couldn't remember if I liked it. One way to find out. As I was eating breakfast, I heard a knock at the door. "Come im" I managed to say through my mouth full of food. Nero stepped in the door.

"So, Leo," He smiled down at me. "How was your first day here? Did you meet any of my adopted children?"

I told him about meeting Meg, and how she told me not to join the family. Nero shook his head sadly. "Poor Meg. She doesn't like new people. Don't take her warning the wrong way. She loves it here. I'm afraid she isn't quite right in the head though. You see, she suffers from orphan syndrome."

"Orphan syndrome? Never heard of it."

Nero looked at me as if I had just said something ridiculous. "Of course you haven't you have amnesia. But yes, Meg is an orphan, and I took her in. Unfortunately, she was never the same after she caused her father's death. However, that's not my story to tell."

What? What did she do?

"Anyhow," Nero continued, "have you made a decision?" I couldn't read his face. I nodded.

"I don't think I want to join the Imperial Family. Not because of Meg, but because I don't think it would be right. But I think I'll stay here if that's ok? I just want my memories back."

Nero looked at me like I was a sad, lost puppy. "Of course you do. And of course you can stay here. In fact, we can begin your therapy and training today!"