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Denzel pouts, holding the sweater up. "Aw, c'mon mom, do I have to?" He groans. Another year, another tacky sweater.
Every year, he'd hope that Aerith would forget this tradition. Instead doing a photoshoot with normal clothing. Unfortunately, his mom never forgot. Aerith would shop for matching outfits, and return home with an outfit for each of them. Always tacky, ugly, and worst of all, itchy.
Even worse? A few of the photos would be put onto their Christmas cards and sent out to their family! In all their tacky, decorated glory.
This year's sweater design had the normal, basic Christmas colors of red, white, green, etc. A chocobo was stitched in the middle, carrying a sack on its back. Its beak wide with a smile, waving at whoever's eyes landed on it. The chocobo stood in some snow, wearing a Santa Claus outfit, minus the beard. At the top, big bold letters screamed MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Aerith was sitting on the couch, braiding Lilith's hair. Lilith sat there patiently, watching the TV. "Yes, Denz, it's fun! You can survive wearing that for a day." She hummed.
Denzel huffs. "I won't survive if I get caught wearing this. Look! It's so...childish!"
"Childish, huh? Well, you are still a child, kiddo."
"I'm ten, mom."
"That's still a kid." Aerith retorts. "Now, go get ready. Dad should be out of the shower soon." Denzel slumps, gathering his clothing. He should've known better than to try and wiggle his way out of it. Once his mom was set on an idea, it was final. You couldn't back her out of it.
"I for one am very excited!" Lilith squealed, kicking her legs back and forth. "I'm gonna look so pretty!"
"And itchy," Denzel muttered lowly as he trudged up the stairs. He glanced back at the sweater, and sighed. Well, if they were going out to grab food after this, perhaps it would be all worth it.
Cloud emerged from the bathroom, in his own outfit. Hair still slightly damp from the shower. He combed it as neatly as he could, taming his "chocobo head," as they dubbed it.
"Alright, kiddo, I'm finished in there," He smiled, ruffling his son's hair. "Don't take too long. We're leaving in half an hour."
Denzel anxiously glanced around the mall as he and his family walked towards the photo studio. Lilith raised an eyebrow at her older brother. She walked up to him, striding alongside him as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Psst, what are you doing?" She whispered to him.
"I don't want anyone from school seeing me in this," He gritted his teeth. Lilith just giggled.
"Whaaat? Is it really that bad?" She hummed. "Nobody's gonna tease you for a shirt!"
"You don't know that, Lily!" He growled. "This isn't exactly what's cool right now."
"Do you really care about being cool that much?"
"Uh, yeah?" Denzel scoffed.
Lilith smirked, a devious idea forming in her mind. She waited till he was distracted again, before gasping. "Is that Mary over there?!" She pointed into the crowd.
"HUH?!" Denzel stammered, frantically whipping his head around. 'Where?!" He tightened his coat around his outfit. Before he realized Lilith's laughing her head off. "Not funny, Lilith!"
"Alright, you two, relax," Cloud frowned at them both. "Lily, don't tease your brother. Denzel, take your coat off, we're about to head in here."
At least, for now, Denzel felt comfortable enough to take his coat off, holding onto it. Now, for the most boring part of the day: the actual photoshoot. Aerith always promised the kids it wouldn't take too long, but every single time....IT DID!!!
He sat down, waiting to be called in after Aerith checked them in. While Lilith decided to flip through one of the old magazines on the table, Denzel stared up at the wall. He couldn't wait to eat out after this. A cheeseburger sounded so delicious right about now--.
"Strife family, your photographer is ready to take your pictures now!"
Oh boy, here we go...
"Okay, I need biiiig smiles!" Terry, the photographer, instructed, his camera ready to go.
Denzel gave his best smile. 'How many photos does mom need...? Only a couple of these are gonna go on Christmas cards! And my arms are itchy AGAIN!!'
FLASH!!
He blinked, trying not to tear up from the bright camera flash. He could never get used to that. He quickly itched his arm.
"Mom, I'm getting hungry..." Lilith whined, pouting up at Aerith. Aerith rubbed her back, sighing briefly.
"I know, sweetie. Just a few more and we'll be done, 'kay?" Aerith reassured. Denzel noticeably perked at this. Freedom!! Soon!!
"Cloud, you blinked on accident in here," Terry commented suddenly, chuckling.
"Oh, oops." Cloud gets flustered. "Sorry, I'd like to retake it then."
Denzel slumped. "Daaaad...."
"What, would you rather we keep a photo of me blinking??"
"I mean, it would be charming..." Aerith chimed in, finger resting on her cheek.
"Absolutely not." Cloud quipped.
One photoshoot later....
"Whew! That was fun!" Aerith giggled, walking out of the photo studio with her family. "You both looked so adorable in the sleigh!" She ruffled both Denzel and Lilith's hairs.
"And you didn't complain as much as you did last year, Denz." Cloud teased, nudging his son's shoulder gently with his arm. "Great job, kiddo."
"Uh, thank you," Denzel smiled awkwardly. 'It's cause I complain in my head now, so I don't get scolded.' That's when he also realized nobody from school saw him this entire time! Score!
"No way, there's Mary! Hi, Mary!" Lilith waved.
"Ha-ha," Denzel sarcastically laughed. "Nice try, Lily."
"I'm serious!!"
"Heyy, Denzel!" Mary waved. "Nice sweater!"
"Ooo, is that your friend, hello there!" Aerith waved.
Denzel sighed deeply, closing his eyes. Of course...