Title: Lay Your Head Down, Darling (yes, THAT one)
Summary: I'd give my right arm for some fluffy, comforting, feel-good Film Brain/Luke where Luke sings Film Brain to sleep. Anon hasn't been sleeping properly for so long that it's not even funny anymore. (Prompt found here: http://tgwtg-meme.livejournal.com/1329.html?thread=1005105 )
Pairing: Film Brain/Luke
Warnings: swearing, snuggling, snogging, and singing

Disclaimer: Mathew Buck owns Film Brain. Luke Mochrie (the person) owns Luke Mochrie (the character). Glenn Close and Brian Byrne wrote the song “Lay Your Head Down” for “Albert Nobbs”; therefore, they own it. I own…up to being the author of this…um…this.

Author’s Note: De-anon-da Hagan strikes again. (Slap me once again for that horrible, horrible pun.)

So………………yeah…………………….this……………………….this was the first prompt I ever answered for the kink meme; this was the first THING I ever wrote for the fandom. …there WILL be an article on my Livejournal regarding the whole vid thing within a day or two. For now, enjoy the story…again…in reading form, not live-action form.

Lay Your Head Down, Darling

There was a knock, and Film Brain went from glaring at his laptop screen to glaring at the door.

"Who is it?" he asked, voice laced with arsenic and exhaustion.

"Housekeeping!" Film Brain rolled his eyes as he walked over to the door and opened it to reveal a familiar head of curly hair and perpetual smirk. Luke. Though the smirk seemed to dissipate under the impact of the Kubrick stare Film Brain was currently imparting.

"You're grumpy," Luke said, more an observation than anything.

"And you're Canadian," Film Brain snapped, "but tomorrow I'll wake up and I won't be grumpy anymore." Luke raised his eyebrows as he stepped into the room.

"I'll let the nationality remark go since you're clearly too exhausted to filter thoughts before they leave your mouth." Luke sat on the edge of the bed, the corner of his mouth turning up. "And also because you're British and have to make yourself feel better about being so."

"Oh, shut it," Film Brain mumbled, sinking on to the bed next to Luke. "And how would you know I'm exhausted?"

"Well, for starters, you've got these dark circles under your eyes that descend to about here..." As Luke said this, he reached out with one finger to trace lightly under Film Brain's left eye, brushing the side of his nose at which Film Brain flinched away. The finger withdrew. "And your eyes are so bloodshot, I can only assume that either you've been wearing contacts for a week straight or you're not sleeping properly."

Film Brain stared at his hands. Luke stared at Film Brain, patiently waiting for a response, a movement...and after several moments, Film Brain's shoulders slumped, elbows lowering to rest on his knees as his head sunk into his hands.

"You're right, I'm sorry," he said, words muffled by his hands.

"I know," Luke said. "It's not my fault I'm Canadian." Film Brain looked up at Luke, eyes watering either from how bloodshot they were or how exhausted the Brit was.

"No, I'm sorry for snapping at you, I am..." Film Brain's words floated away for a moment before they flowed more violently. "It's just, uni's been really stressful and no one seems to watch or like Projector, and everyone keeps asking me when Bad Movie Beatdown is coming back and it all just seems to keep piling up and I just feel so..."

Whatever word that was going to follow - "exhausted", "defeated", "British" - Luke never learned, because Film Brain slumped over again, head cradled in palms, now shaking with unheard sobbing.

"I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in what feels like for-fucking-ever." Luke raised his eyebrows at the use of profanity. "I've tried everything: going to bed earlier, sleep aids, one of those machines that plays ocean sounds or whatever, cutting out caffeine, nothing has fucking helped and I'm just so fucking tired..." The shaking in Film Brain's head spread to his shoulders until his whole body was wracked with sobs.

Luke didn't say anything as he gently, hesitantly drew his palm over Film Brain's back. He didn't fall over or stiffen when Film Brain lunged at him, arms wrapping around Luke, face settling into shoulder, crying muffled by a slowly dampening sweater. Luke just held the other man, running fingers through his short blond hair.

***

Eventually, the shaking subsided, the sobs lessened, until all Luke could feel was Film Brain breathing deeply, the grip around him loosening. Without jostling him too much, Luke raised a hand to take Film Brain's face, make the red-rimmed eyes meet his. Whether Film Brain's cheeks were flushed from the warmth of Luke's sweater, the bout of emotion, or from embarrassment, Luke didn't comment.

"Have you tried a bottle of warm milk?" Luke asked seriously. Despite an effort to hold it back, Film Brain laughed through the tears coursing down his face.

"Shut it, you twat," he hiccupped. "I'm not an infant."

"No, you aren't," Luke said, brushing some of the tears away with his thumb, his other fingers still kissing the Brit's jaw. "And I am sorry things suck right now, but there is one thing you haven't tried yet."

"If you say 'sex', I may have to hurt you," Film Brain said, getting a chuckle out of Luke.

"Tempting, but no," Luke said. "Although this will involve you, me, and this bed." Film Brain tilted his head. "My intentions are pure, I swear. Just get into bed." Luke helped Film Brain stand up, walking to the other side of the bed as Film Brain laid on his side. Luke crawled on to the bed, resting his back against the headboard and a pillow over his crossed legs. "Now lay your head in my lap." Film Brain sat up as though he had been jolted by an electrical shock.

"Wait, what?" he asked. Luke rolled his eyes.

"Just lay your head down, darling," he said, smiling. Not the half-upturned smirk Film Brain knew so well: an honest-to-God smile.

"Luke, I really don't see where you're going with th--" A finger on his lips and a gentle "Shh" from Luke's stopped him. One extended finger became five as they brushed his bangs back, swept stray tears away, traced each feature.

"Sing to me softly your tales of woe," Luke began to sing as his fingers continued their exploration. "I'll cradle you closely, I won't let go. I'll speak to you gently of what I know...don't you cry..." Film Brain felt his mouth open at the gentle lilt of the song that seemed very unlike Luke but also fit him like a glove.

"Lay your head down, darling, the moon is sailing by," Luke sang. "The stars are softly shining; the tide is full and high. We'll fly to the edge, not as distant as it seems, and maybe we'll find there the key to your dreams, so you just lay your head down, darling...sleep now, la-lulla-lullay."

Luke's voice rolled over him in waves, and Film Brain felt his body sink against Luke's shoulder. He felt hand guide his head to the pillow in Luke's lap as the lullaby continued, ebbing and flowing over him like the fingers over his scalp...

"Winds blow, rains fall, but it's warm by the fire's light. Hush, don't you see?...you're here with me, and there's dawn at the end of the night...lay your head down, darling, the moon is sailing by. The stars are softly shining; the tide is full and high. We'll fly to the edge, not as distant as it seems, and maybe we'll find there the key to your dreams, so you just lay your head down, darling...sleep now, la-lulla-lullay."

Film Brain's eyes drifted shut as Luke's voice drifted off and his lips drifted over the now-sleeping man's forehead.

***

When Film Brain came to, he felt the weight and warmth of a comforter and sheets over him, and the cushioning of a pillow under his head. He also became aware of the tickle of hot breath near his neck and the brush of fingers against his. He opened his eyes to see Luke sleeping next to him, not close enough to make him feel uncomfortable, but not so far away, either.

"Luke," he whispered, a rasp in his voice. Luke blinked back to consciousness, smiling as Film Brain blurred into his vision.

"Morning, sunshine," he said. Film Brain felt his eyebrows shoot up.

"Really? Morning? How long have we been asleep?" Luke poked Film Brain's nose with his finger.

" You have been asleep for about four hours longer than I have, and I went to sleep at about..." Luke glanced over Film Brain's shoulder at the clock. "...eight hours ago." A smile slowly crept over the Brit's face." "That's right. Full, uninterrupted night of sleep. You already look a lot better, too." The smile morphed into a smirk. "Though that's not saying much." Film Brain swatted at Luke's shoulder.

"Shut it," Film Brain said, trying to sound insulted but dissolving into laughter, in which Luke joined.

"But seriously, how are you feeling?" Luke asked.

"A lot better," Film Brain said, reaching down to intertwine his fingers with Luke's. "Thank you...what song was that?"

"'Lay Your Head Down,' from 'Albert Nobbs'," Luke admitted. Film Brain arched an eyebrow. "I know, I know, sort of pretentious, the word 'knob' is in the title, blah blah blah, but it did get you to sleep."

"I...wasn't going to say any of that," Film Brain said. "Though, yeah, 'knobs', that's hilarious, but...it's such a ...not you song." Film Brain tugged Luke closer to him. "It was brilliant. You're brilliant." With his free hand, Film Brain wove his fingers through Luke's soft, curly hair.

"Well, thank you, darling," Luke said.

"You're very welcome, Mr. Eames," Film Brain quipped. Luke scrunched his nose up at Film Brain's smirk.

"Well, then who does that make you, since I'm the British one?" Luke retorted. Film Brain tugged at Luke's hair, not hard enough to hurt terribly, but enough for Luke to react. "Ow! I should tell you that you snore for that!" Film Brain's eyes widened.

"Oh, God, I snore?" he said. Luke laughed and patted Film Brain's cheek.

"No, no, silly darling," Luke said. "Actually...you moan in your sleep." Moment of silence.

"That still isn't reassuring," Film Brain stated. Luke's finger found its way to Film Brain's lips again.

"Let me explain," Luke said gently - fondly even. "You moan, but it's not like you're in pain or annoyed or...excited, or what have you. You just...moan." Film Brain didn't know what to say as Luke's finger fell away. He let out a gentle "hmm".

"Just like that," Luke whispered. Film Brain tugged Luke even closer to him, murmuring a "c'mere, you" as Luke's head fell into the crook of his neck. It was Film Brain's time to cradle the Canadian in his arms, and now that Luke was half on top of him, Film Brain made the same half-moan repeatedly, so Luke could feel it, not just hear it.

"Will you make me a recording of that song?" Film Brain asked. "Not from the movie, but you singing it...even if you're not there, you could help me get to sleep." The response was a soft but chapped pair of lips pressing against his neck.

"Anything for you, darling," Luke whispered as his lips moved up Film Brain's neck. "My sweet..." under his jaw "wonderful..." under his ear "darling" brushing the corner of his mouth "Film Brain." His name breathed on to his lips before Luke moved in closer and Film Brain found himself drifting again, not in the strains of a lullaby, but in the warmth of Luke's kiss and the slight roughness of Luke's palms and fingertips and the aroma of Luke's cologne and laundry detergent.

"Are you trying to help me fall asleep now with sex?" Film Brain said when Luke finally broke apart. That half-smirk appeared.

"Wasn't planning to, but I can take you up on that offer, if you want." Film Brain smirked and pressed a quick kiss to that smirk.

"Maybe tomorrow night, but for now, a cuddle and a snog would be nice."