Disclaimer: Not mine.

Author's Note: Just an idea I had that I felt needed to be put into words. This is my first try at Lost World fanfiction.

Because there isn't enough of it in the world.

Under his Skin

She was under his skin.

He didn't know when or how it had happened, only that it had, and it was far too late to fix it now. He should have known it was happening sooner. He had initially thought that she was just cold, and self serving, and he admired it about her. Then he began to watch her, and he discovered a fire inside of her that could keep him warm despite the long, cold nights.

And heaven help him, he wanted her. Despite the different lives that separated them, he wanted her to stay with him. But since he knew better than pursue the impossible – after all, what would the others think of his interest? – he merely watched over her.

He often told himself that he was merely ammusing himself with making sure she was alright, a break from his normal routine. But then it became his routine, seeking her out, watching her. It became second nature. He supposed that was why it seemed so natural to seek them all out when he needed assistance.

If he was honest with himself, and oh how he loathed to be honest with himself, his pursuits were probably why it had been so easy for Centurea to take over his throne. It may have happened when he was doing his duty to the empire in defending it, but it started when he was doing his duty to himself and watching the woman that had enraptured his soul and made him seek her out. His sun.

He remembered the feel of her, the smell of her confidence, her fear and her sensuality when he held the knife to her throat, that first time. Seeing how his former lover, and over thrower, had taken to her too, made him truly aware of just how well he had chosen.

But she was human, and spoken for. And had Tribune been any less of a gentle lizard, and respected Lord John Roxton any less, that probably wouldn't have mattered and he would have simply taken her as a play thing. If only he could be happy with that. But no, no with a woman like Marguerite, he would want her to stand by his side, and help him rule nations as only she could.

He knew that was just a fantasy. No one would stand for a human as empress. So he had to content himself with his passion for power over his passion for her. But still, he watched over her, making sure that she stayed safe, and stayed the self-same fiery woman who had enraptured him so completely. And if Roxton ever overstepped himself, and presumed upon their friendship, Tribune wouldn't hesitate to rescue her from that as well.

She was under his skin like the sun warming his blood. She kept him going. And for her he would make sure she continued to rise.

Just some fluff. Who knows, it may be possible.

What do you think?