Work Text:
“Honey, you know I love you, but what exactly are you wearing?” David cringed.
The boys were visiting the Brewers for the annual Christmas party with extended family. They had helped Marcy and Clint prepare and now all the guests were starting to trickle in. Patrick looked down at his sweater. It was bright red with a festive design and the word ‘PEACE’ emblazoned on the front.
Patrick smiled brightly at his husband. “It’s my holiday sweater! We always wear them for the Brewer Christmas party. My mom bought us all matching ones this year. Hers says ‘Merry’, dad’s says ‘Joy’ - why aren’t you wearing yours?”
“Oh god. Is it the green poly-blend thing folded at the end of the guest bed?”
“I don’t know, I didn’t see what she bought for you.”
“Do I have to wear it?” David whined.
“Yes. You do. Not only to make my mom happy, but it’s the Brewer tradition to all wear them and take a group photo.”
“I can’t believe I married into all this.”
“Just go put it on. I’ll make it worth your while later when I take it off you.” Patrick smirked and winked.
David headed off to change, but was gone for quite a while before a text came through on Patrick’s phone.
David: I can’t wear this.
Patrick: David. Put the sweater on and rejoin the party.
David: No, you don’t understand.
Patrick: It can’t be that bad.
Patrick was getting frustrated that his husband was being so stubborn about this.
Patrick: Seriously, stop acting like you’re too good for this.
David: Fine.
David: But consider this is a preemptive I told you so.
Patrick: [eye roll emoji]
Patrick was chatting with his cousin Sarah when David came down the stairs and approached them. Patrick read David’s shirt, looked up with wide eyes, then back down at his own sweater. Sarah took in the scene and couldn’t hold back her laughter.
“Happy now?” David asked.
“No! David, go take that off - right now!”
“But honey, I thought you said I had to wear it. It’s the Brewer family tradition after all,” David replied in a mocking tone.
“Go change - you proved your point. God, what was my mom thinking?!”
Speak of the devil, Marcy walked up behind David. “Oh, you finally put your shirt on! Isn’t it great?! Here, boys, stand next to each other so I can snap a picture.”
“You don’t need to do that, mom.”
“Why not, Patrick?” Sarah chimed in. “I think they’re perfect for you two! Though I guess I don’t know the details of who should be wearing which shirt.”
Patrick glared. David snorted.
“What am I missing?” Marcy asked. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, Aunt Marcy. Has Uncle Clint seen these yet?”
“Has Uncle Clint seen what?” Clint responded as he strolled up to the group and took a sip of his drink.
“Their sweaters, dear.”
Clint read the sweaters and almost choked on his drink.
“Boys! Those aren’t appropriate! Go change!”
“Mom bought them for us,” Patrick stated matter-of-factly, with raised eyebrows.
“What?!”
“Clint, what’s wrong?” Marcy asked. “They’re lovely Christmas sweaters that go together. Patrick’s says ‘peace’ and David’s says ‘I come in peace’. I thought it would be a cute couples thing for their first Christmas here with us.”
Clint bent over and whispered in her ear.
“Oh! Oh my god! I didn’t even - go take them off!” Marcy responded desperately.
Unfortunately all the commotion alerted the rest of the family that something was going on and everyone came over to see what was happening. Patrick’s face had never been redder as the jokes started up. He wasn’t ever going to live this down. In the end, the whole family thought it was funny and they were forbidden from taking them off. The two men ended up front and center in the family picture - Patrick scowling and David smiling ear to ear.