A/N: I am a sucker for Neji/Hizashi father-son relationship shenanigans. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
P.S. My new writing tumblr: athreadofscarlet
Hizashi sometimes wonders if he has failed Neji as a father. He closes his laptop with a sigh and sets his glasses on his desk, letting worry consume him.
Neji is brilliant. Hizashi has heard it many times from his teachers, and even now his chest swells with pride at the thought. Neji will be successful, no doubt. That is not what concerns him.
Neji has always been quiet and reserved, and Hizashi has never pressed him to be otherwise. But at sixteen and in the throes of puberty and adolescence, Hizashi worries that Neji's antisocial nature will completely isolate him from his peers. Neji does not attend any social functions beyond what is mandatory, and he spends most weekends in his room, with his headphones and laptop. He has only two close friends: Lee, his best friend since preschool, and Tenten, a friend since sixth grade.
Hizashi pushes back his chair and stands to stretch his legs. It is a beautiful Saturday evening and Neji has spent the entire day indoors. Occasionally Hizashi is able to persuade Neji to take a walk with him, and he strides to the door of his office with this intent.
The doorbell rings.
Hizashi freezes. A visitor? He hasn't been expecting anyone. But not a heartbeat later, he hears Neji's bedroom door open and he counts the seconds it takes for his son to reach the bottom of the stairs and answer the door.
"Hey babe, I brought pizza!" a feminine voice greets teasingly, which is then promptly shushed by Neji. Hizashi feels a smirk begin to tug at his lips. Babe? Hizashi recognizes the voice as Tenten's, and he presses his ear to the door of his office to listen.
Hizashi has never had the chance to tease Neji about many things, but this, his lips curve into a wicked grin, is an interesting development. He remains with his ear to the door, but frowns when he can no longer hear the two. He decides he is faced with two options: either remain in his study, or go downstairs and embarrass his son in front of his apparent girlfriend. He is sorely tempted to choose the latter, but he resolves, as the good father that he is, that he will leave the teasing for another time.
Perhaps, he thinks, as he returns to his desk and opens his laptop, he has not failed Neji after all.
A/N: Thank you for reading and please review!
~M.I.