"Headache"

  Golden Brain felt deflated. Another day of hard work and scheming wasted because of the Spy Kids. He felt his brain pulse in irritation and pain, if he had a head, he would call it a headache. He placed a robotic hand over his some and groaned.

"What I wouldn't give to have those kids eradicated!" He huffed as he stomped through the hallways of his evil lair. The grunts were smart enough to stay out of his way. Most of them sticking to the walls and avoiding any sort of eye contact with him. Any misstep and they would be electrocuted with his cane. But all Golden Brain wanted was to hide in his quarters and wallow in his growing hatred of the Spy Kids. He had wasted too much of his time, his grunts, weapons, and money, all to destroy them. Yet, he failed. Again. The moment he entered his private lair, he collapsed on his purple couch. A nap would help alleviate his "brain-ache". He blinked a few times, turned, and turned again. He let out another groan as he clutched at his dome. He couldn't sleep. He couldn't relax. Not while he kept thinking about the spies. He lifted his cane, ready to zap himself with it until he heard a voice calling for him.

"Mr. Brain! Oh Mr. Brain!" The voice sang out. Golden Brain's eyes narrowed in annoyance as he lifted himself up from the couch. He was tempted to go and hide but it was too late once the red-head walked in. "Oh there you are! I was looking for you everywhere!"

"Of course, Therese and here I am." Golden Brain started in a cold tone. "Just tell me what you need from me and go, perhaps quickly." Therese was red-haired young women, who was as brilliant as him. She was dedicated to her job and always does her work without complaining, unlike the slackers he had in his army. But, Therese was also an excited, overly-energetic and naive young women. Her excitement itself was enough to drain him. He was lucky to have her in his nefarious schemes even though she didn't know that herself. But, keeping the truth from her was much more stressful.

"Well, I couldn't help but notice you are in a bad mood. Did the meeting with the algae collectors not go as plan?"

Golden Brain didn't have a meeting with algae collectors, it was a front to keep Therese in the dark about his secret agenda. He actually went to talk to new recruits and make unsavory deals.

"The collectors pulled out from my deal, they were not interested." He answered swiftly making her eyes widen in concern.

"Oh well, I'm sorry Mr. Brain." She said softly. "T-they're a bunch of dummies to not join the company."

"Ugh. More like idiotic neanderthals." He muttered. He rubbed the top of his dome, feeling his brain pulse again. "And now I have this blasted headache because of them."

"Oh I heard taking a nap might help!"

"Yes." He said in a long droll. "Which is what I was planning on doing but I can't seem to relax so if you don't mind-!"

"To help you relax? Sure!" Therese said in a large smile and hopped onto the couch beside him. He shook his hands at her.

"No, no, no, no, I don't need any help, I just want to be alo-ack!"

Therese quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him down towards her, much to his protest, the back of his head was forced down against her lap. He froze up when Therese smiled at him.

"My mom used to do this to me when I was a kid. I use to have terrible migraines but my mom had this trick and it put me right to sleep!"

"Yes, But Therese I don't think I am entirely comfortable with this so I'm just going to get up and-" he lifted himself up only for her to grab his shoulders and put him right back down.

"Oh don't be silly, Mr. Brain!" She said while she patted his glass dome. "I'm happy to help!"

"Oh no." He muttered, as he sunk into himself in slight embarrassment. He could only pray that none of his henchmen's walk in on them. He cleared his throat and placed his hands over his stomach. "A-alright. What do you plan on doing?"

"Okay! First, close your eyes."

He was reluctant at first but seeing her patiently waiting for him with her gentle smile, made him finally close them.

"Now what?" He asked, tapping his fingers against each other. He suddenly felt her small hand grab his left one. He jerked from the sudden touch but she immediately patted his head again.

"You need to relax, Mr. Brain...you need to breathe calmly."

He let out a grunt. It was hard for him to relax since she was now holding his hand like a child. He breathed out slowly, trying to make his breathing steady. He felt her thumb stroking the top of his hand while her fingers slowly wrapped into his own. If he had skin, it would have been red. She then started to hum. It was no song in particular. Not one he recognized. He suspected it came from her mother. It was a soft tune and it slowly began to have an effect on him. He felt his body become more heavy. His eyes began to flicker and he saw Therese had stopped humming. She slowly shifted, trying to silently slide her way out. He grabbed onto her hand, giving it a squeeze, making her stop from moving away from him. He closed his eyes, falling into a deep sleep while his hand clutched her own.

Golden Brain slowly opened his eyes. His headache completely gone. When he looked up, he saw Therese sleeping peacefully against the back of his couch. Her head slightly down against her shoulder. He slowly sat up, careful not to wake her. He noticed how her hand was still holding his own. His eyes soften when he saw it. It was a shame when he had to let go of her. He got up from the couch and looked at his wrist watch. He had slept for more than an hour. He glanced back at Therese, who was still sleeping. He looked around his lair, making sure no one was around as he took off his yellow suit jacket. He gently grabbed Therese's shoulder and head, laying her down on the couch. He draped his jacket over her and saw her smile in her sleep. He chuckled softly before leaving her to continue his work.