'Sup. It's been a while. I hope you enjoye this chapter, despite the wait, and I'll see you again for the next one! And remember: Experts agree that leaving nice comments under fanfictions lets you sleep better at night.~

„I'm Jazz, by the way. Danny's sister."
Startled, the pair ceased their arguing and turned towards Jasmine, who had so unexpectedly appeared at the door and was currently smiling at them, waiting for Danny to introduce their guest to her.

Danny was torn. He had lied to Jazz so often in the past and it hadn't been that long yet since he'd come clear to her about his secret, so he didn't want to start deceiving her again. But then again, this probably shouldn't be his call to make alone since this time it wasn't his life this was about.
He could see that Vlad was observing him, which was probably the reason the guy hadn't said anything himself so far.
„Uh...Did I say something wrong?", Jazz asked, uncertain, her smile having all but faded.
Danny shot Vlad a pleading glance and the other seemed to be be able to read his thoughts completely, because he just shrugged, crossed his arms, and mockingly said:
„Oh, please, do go on, tell her. Wouldn't want to keep secrets from your dear sister, now, would we. It will probably save us all a lot of trouble in the future if she knows."

Now Jazz was just confused. „Tell me what? What's going on, Danny?"
He hesitatetd. „Uh...promise you won't flip?"
Jazz raised an eyebrow. „Try me."
Danny sighed defeatedly. „You better come in, I don't wanna discuss this with the door open."
His sister entered the room properly and closed the door behind her, then turned to him again, obviously waiting for an explanation. And Danny explained...

.
.

Jazz listened calmly until he had finished, sometimes nodding or or motioning with her hands to encourage him to keep going. She never interrupted him.
In the meantime, Vlad hat sat down on the bed and had begun reading a book he had produced out of one of his bags, as though none of this concerned him in any way. What an ass.
Danny finished, and Jazz still didn't say anything. That was unusual.
He frowned, becoming increasingly worried.
„Uh...you okay?"

Still without saying a word, Jazz turned around, opened the door, checked if someone was out in front of the room, closed the door again, then walked back to a very confused Danny and took a deep breath. Before Danny could get out another word, she started:
„What the hell were you thinking?! No, don't answer that. Clearly, you weren't thinking at all! Why on earth would you think it a good idea to bring Him into our house, of all people?" She took the finger she had jut used to prod him in the chest with to emphasize her words and pointed it accusatorily at Vlad. Then she narrowed her eyes and fully turned towards the man.

„Or was it you? Are you currently controlling my brother with another of your stupid inventions? What are you up to, you-"
Vlad did not even bother to look up from his book as he interrupted her. „I assure you, had I any means of exerting control over anybody's thoughts I would use such power to do something useful, rather than move into this tiny dumpster you call a 'home'."

Danny, who had until now been trying to find the proper words to calm his sister down, furrowed his brows.
„Careful, Vlad. Remember, you can always choose to sleep out on the street instead."
He put a hand on Jazz shoulder.
„Come on, Jazz, I know it's not ideal, but Clockwork would't have asked if it wasn't important. Him intervening in things like this is a huge deal. And we know we can trust him...even if the guy sure does love holding back crucial information."
Jazz still did not look entirely convinced, so Danny went on.
„Come on, it'll be fine. Besides,...", and here he grinned at her, „the condition for him staying is that he has to play by our rules this time."

The look of doubt slowly anished from her face as she processed his words and he could tell she had a hard time resisting the urge to grin back at him.
„Oh. Oooh. I see... Well, if that's the case everything should be perfectly in order for the time being, shouldn't it?"
They both turned towards Vlad again, each one hand on the hip, looking down at him mischeviously.
Vlad showed no apparent reaction but he was staring at his book really hard. His eyes weren't moving.

Satisfied, Jazz turned towards Danny again.
„I want you to know that I am still not entirely convinced but I guess it wouldn't hurt keeping it as it is for the time being, so I won't object and will also not tell anyone."
„Thanks, Jazz, that really means a l-" She interrupted him.
„I am not finished yet. I won't tell anyone about it, but I want you to at least tell Sam and Tucker. They won't be happy but they deserve to know." Danny nodded. He would have done that without her telling him.
His sister continued: „And if I smell anything fishy about this, or if it's getting dangerous, then we're out and he is on his own. And no, before you ask, I won't let you have any say in this. You are not risking your life because of him, no matter what Clockwork has to say about it. Got it?"
He smiled. „Got it. Thanks, Jazz, you're the best."
She smiled as well. „Oh, I know."

She went to leave but before opening the door, without turning she said „I'll be keeping an eye on you Masters", then she slipped out of the room and Danny and Vlad were alone again.

Vlad put down his book. „Why, wasn't this nice. And you honestly intend on telling your little friends about it as well?"

But Danny had withstood the urge to respond angrily to one of his jabs all day and he sure as hell wouldn't cave in now.
„Yes, Vlad, it was nice, because, lucky for you, Jazz is great. And I know friendship must be a very hard concept for someone like you to grasp, but honesty is important there, so yeah, I totally am gonna tell my 'little friends'. And you better hope they are as okay with this as Jazz is."
He moved towards the door as well, before Vlad could think of anything else he wanted to say.
„I'll let you get settled in now. We eat at 6. Oh, and I'll make sure I'll get you that list I promised to do." He left and closed the door, but then suddenly popped his head back in again.
„Before i forget: make sure you prepare yourself for the real horror." He grinned.
„You're going back to school, my dude." The door gave a small click as it fell into the lock behind him