A Day of Mischief

Saturday morning arrived with a sense of cheerfulness in the Reinhardt household, the kind that filled the air with playful energy and a welcome respite from the usual tension of the weekdays. Snow continued to fall gently outside the grand windows of the mansion, softening the sharp edges of the world beyond, as a cozy, bustling atmosphere settled in.

Leina Reinhardt, typically reserved and composed, found herself unusually giddy as she skipped through the halls. Her footsteps were light, nearly skipping with the excitement bubbling inside her. The mischievous plan she had been concocting all week was finally coming to fruition. She couldn't help but feel a bit of joy at the thought of teasing her twin brothers, Liam and Louis, with Maria and Daria. The twins—her brothers—were always so serious, so intense, especially during their Saturday training sessions. Leina could already picture their faces as she, Maria, and Daria teased them relentlessly. It was a harmless bit of fun, and after everything that had happened recently, it was exactly what they all needed.

The moment Leina entered the dining room, her brothers looked up, startled by the bright, almost mischievous grin she wore. It was a rare expression on her face, and it made them pause for a moment, exchanging confused glances.

"You look... happy," Liam observed, raising an eyebrow, his voice laced with suspicion.

Louis, who was leaning against the counter, scrutinized her with a look of concern. "What's going on, Leina?" he asked, his tone cautious.

Leina's smile only grew wider as she sat down at the table, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Nothing. Just... nothing at all." Her tone was playful, deliberately evasive.

Leina had always been the quiet, intelligent one, the one who preferred to stay out of the spotlight, but today, there was a different energy about her. Her brothers exchanged uncertain glances but didn't press her further. There was something about the way Leina acted today that made them feel a bit uneasy.

"Are you sure nothing's going on?" Liam asked again, still watching her carefully.

Leina just smiled enigmatically. "I'm sure."

At that, Maria and Daria entered the room, both looking unusually eager and, in Maria's case, also slightly mischievous. They exchanged knowing looks with Leina, and then Daria shot her a wink.

Liam and Louis exchanged even more confused glances. "What's going on here?" Louis muttered, clearly sensing that something was afoot.

Maria beamed at them. "We're just here to hang out," she said innocently, though there was an unmistakable glint in her eyes that gave away her intentions.

"Oh, we're here for the practice, too," Daria added, her tone sweet but carrying a hint of something more. "You know, to keep you guys company."

Liam's eyes narrowed. "What practice?"

"The usual," Leina said, her voice light but carrying an edge of mischief. "You know, the one where you two try to keep up with us while we... distract you."

Maria chuckled, nodding. "Yes, yes. You know, all in good fun."

Liam and Louis exchanged a glance before Louis sighed. "Alright, fine. But don't expect us to go easy on you just because we're having guests over." He stood up, his tall frame cutting through the room with a sense of purpose. "Training starts in an hour. You can stay, but don't think you're getting off easy."

Leina's eyes sparkled. "Oh, I'm not planning on going easy on you." Her words were soft, but they carried a teasing note that made her brothers pause. Their eyebrows knitted together, unsure of how to react.

The hour passed quickly, and soon the siblings were gathered outside, the snow-covered grounds of the Reinhardt estate becoming the perfect backdrop for their Saturday training. Leina, Maria, and Daria stood by the edge of the training grounds, watching the twins prepare. The air was cold, but it didn't dampen the warm energy they felt. Today wasn't about intense practice; today was about having fun and turning the tables.

Liam and Louis stretched and readied themselves for the drills, unaware that they were about to face the unexpected. They were used to their usual Saturday training, the strict routines, and the focus on discipline. But something felt different today, and it wasn't just the fact that Maria and Daria were here. Leina's energy was palpable; her quiet intensity was replaced with an exuberant sense of anticipation.

"So, what's the plan, Leina?" Daria asked, her voice low but filled with excitement.

Leina grinned, glancing at the twins as they prepared. "We're going to make sure they don't focus on the drills today. Just a little bit of harmless fun to throw them off balance."

Maria, already on the same page, chuckled softly. "You think they'll let us get away with it?"

Leina's eyes gleamed. "Let's find out."

As the twins turned to face them, ready to begin the practice, Leina, Maria, and Daria moved into position. The twins immediately set to work, running through their self-defense drills with precision and focus. But as soon as they started, the trio of girls began making subtle distractions.

Leina, with a feigned air of innocence, asked in a sweet voice, "Louis, have you ever thought about what it would be like if you were the oldest sibling? What would you do with that kind of responsibility?"

Louis, in the middle of a stance, glanced over at her, thrown off by the question. "What?"

"Imagine," Leina continued, her voice playful, "you'd have to set the example. You'd have to be serious all the time. You'd have to be the leader."

Maria, joining in, added, "Don't you think that would be exhausting? It's gotta be tough having so many eyes on you all the time."

Louis's expression faltered slightly, his concentration slipping for just a second. "I... I guess it would be," he said, his voice unsure, clearly distracted by their banter.

Leina grinned triumphantly.

Meanwhile, Daria was making her move with Liam. As he worked through his punches, she sidled up beside him and nonchalantly whispered, "You know, Liam, I heard you were good at that whole 'tough guy' act. But do you know what I think?"

Liam barely managed to dodge the next punch, his concentration completely broken. "What?"

"I think you're secretly soft," Daria teased, tapping him lightly on the shoulder. "It's those pretty eyes, right? They give it away."

Liam blinked, clearly taken aback. He stuttered, trying to maintain his composure. "I'm not—soft."

"Oh, I think you are," Daria taunted, stepping back and watching him struggle to maintain his stance. "Just admit it, Liam. You're a big softie under all that tough exterior."

Liam flushed, unable to hide the embarrassed chuckle that escaped him. He glared at her, but the playful glint in his eyes betrayed his annoyance.

Meanwhile, Maria, not one to miss an opportunity, shot a cheeky look at Louis and whispered something in his ear that sent him into a fit of laughter, despite himself. Louis tried to shake it off, but even his disciplined focus couldn't withstand the light-hearted teasing.

The tension that normally defined their training was replaced by laughter and playful banter. The atmosphere shifted from rigid practice to a much more relaxed and fun-filled energy. Leina and the girls had succeeded in their goal—completely throwing off the twins' focus.

As the session came to a close, the twins were flushed from the physical exertion but also from the laughter and teasing. Their serious, focused expressions had been replaced with amused, slightly embarrassed smiles. They had given in to the fun, and Leina could tell that, despite their initial resistance, they were secretly grateful for the distraction.

And she made sure to tape the whole thing and show her father that they weren't better than her when it came to her strong will and fight.

Leina stood in the middle of the group, hands on her hips, a satisfied grin on her face. "Well, that was a good training session, wouldn't you say?"

Liam and Louis exchanged defeated but amused glances, both of them finally breaking into reluctant smiles. "You know, you two are impossible," Liam said, shaking his head. "We were supposed to be training, not laughing."

Louis nodded. "But I guess it was nice to... lighten things up a bit." He shot Leina a playful smirk. "You got us, didn't you?"

Leina's smile grew wider, her heart light. "I think we all needed it." She glanced at Maria and Daria, who were grinning just as widely. "Thanks, guys. This was fun."

The cold air nipped at their cheeks, but it hardly mattered. The world around them was quiet and peaceful, with a soft layer of snow covering the ground. She glanced at her brothers, who were still catching their breath, their expressions a mix of frustration and amusement.

Leina knew they weren't mad. It had been fun for them too, even if not in the way they had expected. And that was something she cherished—those moments when they could just be human and not the disciplined Reinhardt siblings. They could laugh, tease, and let their guard down for a little while. It was a rarity, but a good one.

As they walked back to the house, the twins trailing behind, Maria and Daria flanking Leina, she reflected on how different today felt. Normally, Saturdays were about drills and maintaining pressure to live up to the Reinhardt name, but today had been lighter, and that was a good feeling.

She was surprised by how much she enjoyed the teasing. It wasn't just about disrupting the twins—it was about connection. It was about seeing her brothers laugh, even reluctantly. It was about moments where her usually stoic siblings could let their guard down, if only for a while.

She glanced at Louis, who was wiping snow off his coat, now looking more at ease. His usually stiff posture had softened. There was a lightness to him that reminded her they weren't always bound by their duties.

"You're not so bad at this teasing thing, Sis," Louis said, a playful glint in his eyes. "You got us good."

Leina chuckled. "I told you, I have my ways."

Maria nudged her side, grinning. "It was pretty great. We should do it more often."

Daria added, "Yeah, I've never seen Liam so ... thrown off."

Leina laughed softly, remembering Liam's flushed cheeks when Daria teased him. It had been playful, but it had left its mark.

Reflecting on it, something warm bloomed inside her. Despite the teasing, there was an undercurrent of affection. It wasn't just about making fun of her brothers—it was about strengthening their bonds, making memories, and reminding each other that family could be more than just duty—it could be about enjoying each other's company.

The twins had joined in, despite their serious nature. They hadn't just been forced into something—they had chosen to participate in the moment, even if reluctantly.

By the time they reached the front door, Leina felt content. The warmth of the house beckoned them inside, promising hot cocoa and a cozy fire.

As they stepped into the foyer, James greeted them with a slight smile. "Welcome back."

"Thanks, James," Leina said, still grinning. "We had a bit of fun out there."

He raised an eyebrow, his lips curling slightly. "I can tell. Some of your brothers might need a few minutes to recuperate." His eyes drifted to Liam and Louis, who had entered with sheepish expressions.

Leina chuckled. "They'll survive. But we'll make sure they get some hot cocoa before they collapse."

James smiled. "I'll prepare it right away."

As they gathered around the fireplace, the warmth enveloped them. Leina sank into a chair, her legs stretched out in front of her, feeling at ease. Her mind, usually busy, was quiet for once.

Liam, still flushed, grabbed a steaming mug of cocoa and handed one to Louis. "You guys were right," he said, nodding toward Leina and the girls. "We needed that."

Louis nodded. "Yeah. Training's important, but... it's good to have a break."

Maria grinned. "Maybe we can make it a regular thing—throw you guys off your game once a month."

Leina watched her brothers, feeling warmth spread through her chest. Despite their usual seriousness, they were here, sharing this moment with her. And that was enough.

Mischief had its place, but it was these genuine moments that truly mattered. And for the first time in a long while, Leina felt everything was as it should be.

Normal.