Author's Note: Hey! So yeah, it's been a while. But today, as a little birthday present to myself, I'm posting a new chapter! I really hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, or any of the characters. I just own the feeble little thing we call the plot of this story. :)

Creature of the Night

Chapter Four

"Jasper?"

"Hm?"

"Where did you get those scars?"

It had been two weeks since Laurent had first seen Jasper, and every night since, they had slept together. Tonight was no exception.

In those two weeks, Laurent had learned quite a lot about Jasper. Unfortunately, because Jasper remembered so little of his life, there wasn't much to tell. There was the sex, the drugs, the alcohol, the few other prostitutes he called friends, and the odd places he'd been, but other than that, there wasn't that much to the boy. He had never known a home, and had always assumed he was an orphan, because there was no one to tell him otherwise. He'd made up stories about his childhood and family; how his mother was an artist, and his father had been a prince from a far away land who had run away to be with her. They had run a bakery together, and lived happily, until one day, when it had burned to the ground, killing them both and leaving him orphaned and alone. It was sad, but sweet. Other than that, Jasper was an optimistic kid, with a big heart and big dreams. He was funny and kind hearted, and fascinated by the world around him.

But Jasper was suffering. Laurent had seen him drink and smoke. He'd seen the needles and the marks on his arms that the drugs left. The kid was in pain, but he wouldn't talk about it. Laurent was surprised by how much he had come to care about the boy in such a short amount of time, but he'd rationalized it by simply assuming that it was because the kid didn't have anyone else to care for him.

But Laurent had seen enough. And as he watched Jasper redressing himself, as he did every night, he suddenly found that he could hold his tongue no longer.

"Scars?" Jasper asked.

"Yeah. Those scars, on the inside of your thighs. How the hell did you get those?" Laurent asked. Jasper refused to look at him, but Laurent could see the color rising in his cheeks.

"I-I have no idea what you're talking about Laurent," Jasper said coolly, turning away, and quickly starting to head for the door.

"Don't give me that bullshit Jasper. Where did you get those scars?"

Jasper stood frozen in the doorway. He was breathing hard, and Laurent saw his hands tighten around the doorknob.

"Look, Laurent, it doesn't matter," Jasper said, coldly. He still refused to face Laurent, but just from the sound of his voice, the older man could tell he was crying. Laurent stood up, and moved behind Jasper, gently wrapping his arms around the younger man's waist.

"You've been cutting," Laurent whispered. Jasper didn't answer, but Laurent felt him stiffen against his chest, and he sighed.

"You… don't have to do that. You know you don't Jasper," he murmured, running his fingers through the boy's curly hair. Jasper still didn't say anything; he simply stared blankly ahead of him, into the darkness of Laurent's apartment.

Laurent gently pulled on his hand, leading the blonde back towards the bed, but Jasper pulled away from him.

"I have to go," Jasper said. His voice was cold and strained, but still shaking with suppressed sadness and confusion. Laurent gave him a pained look.

"Where?" he asked.

"Back to my post,"

"Why?"

"Because I have work to do," Jasper said, curtly. Laurent frowned.

"It's almost five in the morning. Who orders a prostitute at five in the morning?"

Jasper smirked, and laid his head against Laurent's chest.

"You'd be surprised. That's when most men leave for work. Then their wives come prowling down our street, lookin' for love," he said, suppressing a giggle. Laurent smirked, and kissed his forehead.

"Where do you go after that?"

Jasper shrugged.

"I usually just hang out in abandoned buildings, and catch up on my sleep," he admitted, "I mean, it's not like I have anywhere else to go,"

"You could always come back here," Laurent said. Jasper raised an eyebrow at him, and looked up into his dark brown eyes.

"Oh really?"

"Y-yeah, I mean…" Laurent fumbled awkwardly for the words. "Y-you can always feel free to come here. I like having you around… Hell, you could just… come… live here…" he finished, looking away from Jasper as the heat rose in his cheeks.

He could feel the boy staring at him incredulously, and Laurent suddenly felt incredibly stupid.

"I-I mean, only if you wanted to-"

"You… would let me live here?" Jasper asked, quietly. Laurent glanced at him quickly, and saw the look of absolute shock and adoration on the boy's face. His blush deepened.

"W-well… yeah, of course," he said. Laurent could feel his heart pounding in his chest, like a jack-hammer. Jasper continued to stare at him, and Laurent could see the slight mistrust in the boy's eyes, as if he was waiting for the catch.

"So… W-would you?"

"Come live with you?" Jasper asked, hesitantly. Laurent nodded. Jasper watched him for a moment, before a slow, shy smile crossed his face.

"Y-yeah… I-I'd… I-I'd like that," he said, softly. Laurent's heart leapt in his chest, and he suddenly felt like he was dancing on a rainbow.

"Cool," he said, casually, trying to hide a smile. Jasper, on the other hand, beamed at him, and took him by the hand.

"So… I can really stay here, and live with you?" he asked. Laurent nodded.

"Yeah… Consider this your new home," he said. Jasper blushed, and buried his face in Laurent's chest. Laurent's heart skipped a beat.

'Calm down Laurent,' he thought, staring down at the boy. 'He's just a kid. Remember that. You have a boyfriend, and this kid doesn't mean anything to you. He's just a friend, who's going to be living with you for a little while… A friend who shares your bed, tells you secrets, and fucks you like crazy every night… I-it's not an affair, because he doesn't mean anything to you… No matter how many times a day you think about him, or how many wet dreams you've had with him in them… He's just a friend….'

"Hey… Jasper?"

"Yes, Laurent?"

"Promise me something?"

"Anything…" Jasper said, smiling. Laurent swallowed hard.

"P-promise me… Promise me that you'll stop hurting yourself. As long as you're here, I don't want you drinking, smoking, or doing drugs… and especially cutting. I don't want you to end up killing yourself doing something stupid. I-I care about you Jasper. I don't want you to hurt yourself," Laurent said, quietly.

Jasper stood there silently for several minutes. He seemed to be processing what Laurent had said, slowly bringing himself to make a decision. Finally, he looked up at Laurent, and gave him a weak smile.

"A-alright Laurent. I-I'll do my best to stop. Just… promise me you'll be there to help me,"

Laurent smiled, and wrapped his arms around Jasper, and pulled him closer.

"Of course. I'll always be here for you Jasper,"

Laurent felt his heart give a little flutter, as he stared down into Jasper's beautiful emerald eyes.

'He's just a friend… He's only a friend… Nothing more… So why is it so hard to tell myself that?'

Author's Note: So? What did you think? Review and let me know!