Title: The Journal of Ned Malone
Fandom: The Lost World
Pairing: Roxton/ Malone
Rating: PG 13, for mild m/m situations
Summary: Based on "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's, The Lost World"
Notes: There isn't much "The Lost World" fic out there and no slash that I've been able to find. Maybe this will start a trend.

Excerpted from the memoirs of Ned Malone:

It happened again.

That thing. That horrible, awful thing. I can barely write of it, and we're this not a confession of my sins I would not do so now.

Lord John Roxton, the imperious, led the march up the mountainside. I followed a spare of paces behind and Challenger, the organizer of this miserable trek brought up the rear a good dozen steps further back. He needed a sample; some herb or wild thing that the natives assured him grew only on the high ridge that was our destination.

As we ascended the slope the woods became thicker, and the bushes with occasional high trees gave way to forest and thick undergrowth. The path grew more treacherous and the climbing became arduous. By late morning we were all perspiring profusely, which is when, much to my consternation, my troubles began.

As I followed Roxton I kept my eyes forward, watching that path ahead as one must always do. One misstep, one stone unnoticed was liable to turn your ankle or worse send you shrieking down the mountainside and into the waiting jaws of some great brute of a lizard.

Much to my discomfort watching the trail meant watching Roxton. And watching Roxton meant being alarmingly aware of him: Aware of the sweat pooling between shoulder blades and washing a streaking trail down his back. Aware of the way the dampness caused his shirt to cling to his body, highlighting every muscles and sinew. Aware of the way he moved, taut, strong, a man's man in all ways, sturdy and strong.

I dare say I did my best to keep my eyes fixed squarely on Lord Roxton's collar but a nasty moment with a large sharp stone underfoot quickly forced my eyes back down. And again I became aware of his physicality, as his steps brought each perfect sphere to prominence, to be followed by its mate, and then the first again. And the occasional glimpse into the shaded crevice between.

In time I became appallingly aware of my own body's response, its wicked betrayal, as we marched. Surely it was the heat, and the motion. Truly that. It occurs as if by a will of it's own, it was the same for any natural man. A mechanical reaction from weariness and a certain looseness of undergarments that allowed too much movement. Surely only that.

Fixated as I was on my own certain damnation I failed to notice Roxton stopping on the trail ahead. Like the ponderous dim-witted beasts that surrounded us, I lumbered on oblivious to dangers ahead. Fortunately my slow pace caused only the slightest collision. As it was Roxton was forced to grab my arms and pull me upright as I staggered and nearly went toppling from the trail.

He pulled me forward and upward as I struggled and nearly failed to remain on my feet. I stumbled ahead blindly, my heart leaping in my chest at the thought of tumbling to my death down this despicable mountain.

"Are you alright Malone?"

Roxton was close. I could feel the heated shimmer of his breath on my face, the touch of his hands through the dampness of my own shirt.

"Daydreaming of Gladys again?" His face wore a sly grin, a classic Roxton smirk.

Through the fog of my cluttered thoughts and above my still thrashing heart I realized that we had stumbled into an awkward embrace, our bodies pressed together in a most ungentlemanly fashion. As I fought through my dull headedness trying to understand I realized to my horror that I could feel his body pressed against my rampant flesh.

I nearly sent myself over the cliff again as I leapt back. There was devilish humor in his eyes, and again that wicked smile.

"Sorry Roxton," I stammered as Challenger joined us. "I'm afraid I was wool gathering, it won't happen again."

Roxton studied me for a moment and pulled his hat down, shading his eyes.

 "We'll see," he said and turned and began to climb.

 [End]