Max was currently standing outside the door of his old home, along with Nori, as his younger sister, Tessa was hugging him, squeezing the life out of him.
Max (Not Breathing): Tess....need....air.....now!
Tessa quickly let go of her brother and nervously chuckled.
Tessa: Oops. Sorry, Maxxie but you know it's been forever since I've seen you!
Max was about to say something when he was punched in the gut, causing him to groan in pain.
Max: ....thats rude.
Tessa: YOU LEFT ME! YOU'RE RUDE!
Max: .....valid point.
Max recovered as Tessa finally noticed the drone that was with Max.
Tessa: KYA! Who's this adorable bot!?!
Tessa was basically face to face with Nori as she took in every detail of Nori's appearance.
Max: That's Nori. She's....uh, my servant.
Nori looked over at Max, her visor marked with the words "I hate you" as Max smirked.
Tessa: Hm. I didn't think you'd ever get one after I was claimed as J's favorite.
Max: Now that's uncalled for. I still think you bribed her with something.
Max turned his head towards J.
Max: Don't think I forgot about that.
J only shrugged as Max turned his attention back to Tessa, who was now standing normally again.
Tessa: What brings to back, not that I mind or anything.
Max adjusted his tie as he reached into his jacket pocket (he's in a suit btw) and pulled out Tessa's letter inviting him to her party.
Max: Ring a bell?
Tessa: Oh! That's why you came back? Not because you missed us or anything?
Max pointed to the car behind him.
Max: Do you want me to go now or?
Tessa: AH!? Stop it! You're always bullying me.
Max chuckled as he looked at his younger sister.
Max: I kid, I kid. So, can I come in or is your party out here?
Tessa: Oh! Come on! I've got to show the others.
Tessa began to lead Max through the manor as J and Nori followed behind. As the group walked through the manor, they managed to bump into Tessa and Max's mother, Louisa.
Louisa: Can it be? Maxwell? You've come home?
Max: Just Max, mother, and I'm here for Tess' birthday.
Louisa: I see. I take it you won't be staying afterwards then?
Max nodded lightly.
Max: Afraid not. Work tends to move me around a lot and I need to be available at all times.
Louisa: Hm....and what's this little creature?
Louisa pointed down to Nori, that sidestepped behind Max.
Max: She's my servant.
Louisa: I see and I now know where your sister gets the idea to dress up her....toys.
Max and Tessa looked over at each other, both sharing a slight annoyed expression.
Max: Yes, apparently. Anytbing else you'd like to nitpick about my life?
Louisa took the hint and said her goodbyes to her son and daughter before leaving.
Max and Tessa continued on their way with J and Nori following behind.
Tessa led Max and others up to her room where two other drones were. One was a male looking drone with a suit on and the other was another female with a maid outfit who also wore Glasses.
Tessa: This girl here is V!
V sheepishly waved as Max gave a two finger salute.
Tessa: And this adorable little guy is N!
N waved excitedly as Max also gave N a two finger salute.
Max: Right, so do you normally keep them in here or do they work like the others?
Tessa: Oh please. Father and Mother would kill me if I just kept them like this. They work as normal worker drones but mainly take orders from me.
Max rolled his eyes at the mention of his parents.
Max: Welp, the way I see it, you're old enough to make your own decisions now, so don't mind what they say.
Tessa: Is that why you left?
Max: Uh, kind of? I left because....i wanted to make a name for myself and not be handed everything in life.
Tessa: I guess that makes sense.
Max: You'll understand when you're older, Tess. So! Party time?
Max and Tessa smirked as the drones all looked at each other.
~~~~
A few hours passed and the party was finally happening. Despite it being a party for Tessa turning sixteen, the people who were invited were mostly other rich assholes that were friends with Max and Tessa's parents.
Max was over with Tessa most of the time, who both stood next to a punch bowl as the guest all mingled with each other.
As for Nori and the other drones they were told to stay out of sight and on the upper floors. Nori was seen walking around on the upper floors, mainly the library.
She was looking over the books when she heard giggling. She looked around before spotting N on the other side of the library reading a book about dogs.
Nori smiled as she continued walking around the library. Nori walked around the library, not paying attention to her surroundings, accidentally bumped into someone.
Nori dropped to the ground as the perosn stumbled backwards a bit.
Man: Ugh! What in the hell?
The person looked at the floor to see Nori slowly getting up.
Man: Ugh, another one of these hideous things.
The man looked at the robot as Nori stared at him with hollow eyes.
Man: Purple? What monstrosity. Who in their right mind would chose a god-awful color? No manners on this one either.
Nori seemingly shrunk down as the man loomed over her. Her right eye turning into some sort of symbol that the man recognized.
Man: Another defective unit. That girl must really stop getting these things out of the trash.
The man was reaching down to grab Nori when another voice spoke up. Nori covered her eye as it changed into some form of symbol.
Max: You touch her, you won't have your hand anymore.
The man looked up to see his son, Max standing in the doorway.
James: Maxwell? You dare threaten your father!?
Max: Be glad a threat is all you got. Now leave my bot alone before I make you.
James stood up straight, dusting his jacket off.
James: And here I thought you came home where you belong. You finally ready to apologize, boy?
Max glared at his father.
Max: Not a chance in hell. I meant it when I said I don't need you or your damn money.
James walked up and stood in front of his son.
James: Best watch your tone, boy. A lot of people are interested in bots like that one.
Max could feel his anger rising within him, but he managed to keep a level head...for now.
Max: Get out of my way or I'll make sure you can't get in anyone's way again.
Max and his father shared a moment to glare at one another once more before his father walked out. Max walked over to Nori, who seemed a little shaken up.
He crouched down in front of her, as she still covered her right eye still.
Max: Are you okay?
Nori nodded lightly. Max grabbed her hand and moved it away from her eye to see a symbol that felt familiar to him.
Max let go of Nori's hand as she covered her eye again. Max stood up and was about to move when Nori grabbed his pants leg.
He looked down at her, as she was standing up.
Nori: Can....Can we go? I-I don't like the feeling here.
Max: Sure. Let's go.
Max and Nori began to walk out of the library, but stopped at the door.
Max: N! Forget this moment ever happened and tell Tess I had to leave. Tell her that something came up.
N stood up and saluted.
N: You can count on me!
Max nodded to the bot and led Nori out of the manor and into his car, leaving the property.
~~~~
After leaving the party and arriving back home, Nori didn't say much. She went to her bed as Max sat on the couch.
Max looked into his room at the small bed in the corner that Nori used. He saw her facing the wall, it lightly illuminated by her visor, indicating she was awake still.
Max got up and walked over to her bed, sitting on the edge.
Max: You want to talk about it?
Nori remained silent.
Max: You can ignore me all you want. I'm still going to pester you about it.
Nori, knowing Max will continue to pester her, rolled over and sat up. She pulled her knees into her robotic chest, her eyes back to normal.
Nori: I don't know what came over me but I never felt like that before.
Max: Feel like what?
Nori looked up at Max, his face reflecting off her visor as her purple eyes looked at him.
Nori: I wanted to kill him.
Max hummed as he nodded lightly.
Max: I mean yeah. He's a killable guy but for someone like you to think about killing? That is a little weird. Plus that symbol your eye turned into? I think I've seen it before, I just can't remember it.
Nori looked down as Max placed a hand on her head.
Max: Hey, don't worry about a thing. Consider this me paying you back for all the help you did with me.
Max stood up as Nori went to lay down again.
Max: Besides! You're like the cool robot-mom.
Nori burst into laughter.
Nori: Don't call me that!
Max chuckled as he stood in the doorway.
Max: Whatever you say 'mom'!
Nori laughed again, as Max was now laughing too.
Nori: BITE ME!
Max chuckled once more.
Max: Alright! Won't call you mom anymore. Goodnight, Nori.
Max closed the door, leaving Nori alone in the room.
Nori: Goodnight...son.