Stress Test Anon Part 3

>Ever since Sammy had seen your last episode and Lulu had to reveal your job as a Stress Tester things had been awkward to say the very least.
>She refused to meet your eye, and while still relatively lighthearted her overall temperament seemed heavier when she was around you.
>She would still talk with Lulu, but whenever your first Maidbot would bring you up their conversations would grind to a halt.
>"We need Groceries soon, right?" You ask, causing Lulu to look up from the Nandroid Fashion magazine she'd been idly thumbing through and Sammy to jump like a spooked cat.
>Lulu puts a finger to her chin and seems to think for a second before nodding "We could use some more eggs, and the Milk is almost gone as well, shall I accompany you to the store today?" She asks politely in her usual caring lay soft tone.
>You give her a nervous smile "Actually, I was going to take Sammy today, as this would be the first time she'd be going" you explain, hoping that Lulu would understand that you were trying to get past the shell Sammy had put up around you.
>Her expression doesn't change, but you can tell she's disappointed, and the soft "oh" she lets out in reply is like a left hook to your gut.
>"Ah, there's no need for that!" Sammy says, obviously trying to get out of this situation "I can go next time, I'm sure that you'd have a much better time shopping with Lulu!" If Sammy were capable of it she'd be sweating as she tries to look anywhere but your face while saying this.
>"No, no, best to do it now" you say, internally sighing as you look at you maidbots' equally downcast faces "Lulu and I will go together when we need more of everything else, but for right now I'll need to show you to the store plaza" you explain firmly but kindly.
>Sammy's shoulder slump as she realizes she's not talking her way out of this, and before you know it the two of you are driving to the Plaza.
>The Plaza is the only place you and Lulu ever shop at, not because of any poorness on your account (You make enough to live incredibly comfortably while also being able to give Lulu a stipend for anything that catches her fancy) But mostly because it's one of the few places you can go with Lulu where the people don't stare and assume you're a sick fuck like Tobias that beats on droids to get his jollies off.
>The fact that it carries everything a Person or Sterling bot could need is just gravy to that.
>You make an attempt at casual conversation as you show her all your frequent haunts, but it doesn't seem to help with her nervousness around you.
>As you enter the last place to show her you suddenly find yourself in a headlock with a metal arm under your chin.
>"Anon you Prick! are you slummin' around on poor sweet Lulu!?" Says Maryanne, only to let out a 'oof' and let you go when you elbow her in the stomach.
>"First of all, How dare you imply that I would ever hurt Lulu" You grumble as you rub your sore throat "Secondly, This is Sammy, who was given to me as a hush money bonus because Tobias is an asshole" you say curtly.
>The Woman who'd just had you in a headlock is Maryanne Sykes, the owner of Maryanne’s Nandroid Repair Shop and one of the only Cyborgs you've ever met who wasn't a criminal, standing a head shorter than you the woman rubs at her stomach with her mechanical arm and glares as you before smirking.
>"So now you're living with two pretty ladies instead of one, well aren't you a lucky bastard" she purrs before beginning to circle Sammy, who fidgets nervously.
>Maryanne was a friend of Agustus' before he'd passed and you somehow ended up taking his place after you and Lulu met her at his funeral, and the woman took every opportunity to kiddingly tease you for your closeness to Lulu ever since.
>"A new line Model eh?" Maryanne says after finishing looking her over "No new parts for this little lady till Christmas at the earliest, so you better take care of her you shitty prettyboy!" The diminutive cyborg hollers as she slaps you on the back and laughs.
>"You know I'd never do anything to hurt anyone that isn't named Tobias" you grumble at her "I'm just showing Sammy around the Plaza so she knows where everything is in the future"
>"Then why is she so nervous, find out about your dayjob?" she says with a smirk, only to frown as you nod "Oh, well shit then" she says flatly.
>From there everything goes relatively well, and then you're on the way back home.
>Finally after a few minutes of awkward silence, Sammy speaks.
>"Why do you do it?" she asks, and you sigh.
>"Do they still teach you about Gorchev Park in training?" you ask, nodding along as she flinches at the reference to one of the most lawless slums in america.
>"I was born and raised there, lived there all my life until I met my Mentor Agustus" you explain, eyes never leaving the road "He caught me trying to steal the wheels off of his car, and he beat the absolute hell out of me for it before he offered me a job" you chuckle at the memory "he said that I was the only kid stupid or ballsy enough to try and nick a Sterling Man's tires and that they could use some of that in his line of work"
>"Agustus saved me from bleeding out in an alley or overdosing on Zig like my ma, gave me a job, turned my entire fuckin' life around" You stop at a red light and look Sammy in the eye "And then Lulu came into my life and she saved me all over again, but she's an old model, and keeping her in tip top shape is expensive" you say before looking back at the road as the light turns green "Anywhere else and I'd be choosing between eating and keeping Lulu charged and functional" you explain tiredly.
>"I'd throw myself into hell head first if it means keeping her happy Sammy, that's why I do it" you explain "Because she's worth every horrible thing that I experience in that job"
>As you pull into the parking lot Sammy places a hand on your arm, and when you look at you she returns eye contact with an intense expression.
>"Do you love her, anon" she asks in a dead serious tone, her eyes locked directly onto yours.
>"Yes" you answer immediately, not a single doubt in your mind.
>Sammy smiles at you "You really are a goof person, master" as she exits the car and approaches the apartment before turning to look at you "Let's go, Lulu is waiting for us" she says happily before skipping towards the house happily.