Call my name and save me from the dark

Broken Promises

A/N No TW (yet).

Slight Naruto bashing (on being an absent father)

Heavy rain is always a bad omen!

I promised, so now you shall receive!

"Boruto, he'll be here. Don't worry."

"He was supposed to be here hours ago, mom. It doesn't even matter anymore."

Boruto sat, curled up on the sofa, staring out the window at the slowly sinking sun bleed orange across the rain-soaked windows. It was March 27th. His birthday . And dad wasn't here. He'd let Boruto down. Again.

Hinata watched Boruto from the kitchen, face contorted into one of pain. Naruto had better have a good excuse. He'd promised . Naruto had promised to be home for dinner at five. By now, it was nearing eight. She sighed. The cake was still on the counter, uneaten. Boruto had refused to light the candles until Naruto arrived. So they'd waited. And waited. And waited.

Suddenly, Boruto abruptly stood up, storming out of the living room and into the hallway, digging through the rack of haphazardly placed shoes for his combat boots. Hinata followed after him.

"Boruto? What are you doing?" She asked hurriedly, as Boruto kicked his feet into his shoes, fumbling with the laces.

"I'm going out," he snapped. Then he glanced up at her. "Sorry."

"It's okay. But, Boruto, it's getting dark. You shouldn't be going out-" she began.

"I need some fresh air. I won't be long. If he comes home, tell him-"

"Tell him what?"

Turning, Naruto stood in the doorway, soaking wet, and panting slightly. He glanced at the disappointment on Hinata's face, the upset on Himawari's, and the anger on Boruto's. What was wrong with them? Eight was a decent time for him to be home, all things considered. Why... why did Boruto have his shoes on? Was he going out? It was still late, even if Naruto would consider it early. He's about to tell Boruto to take off his shoes when he sees behind them, into the kitchen.

Streamers. Presents. Cake.

Oh. Oh, no no no no-

" Can you move?"

Boruto's voice snapped him back to reality. He glanced down to see his twelve- no, thirteen year old son glaring at him.

"Boruto, I-" Naruto started.

"What? Let me guess, you got caught up in work and lost track of time, right? Thats the normal excuse you give. Or is it something else? What excuse do you have for missing the one day a year where you're supposed to focus on me for once?" Naruto opened his mouth again, but Boruto was on a roll.

"I'm not mad you didn't come, dad. You're never here anyway so it's no difference. This family has learned how to work without you in it. You're never here, so what else are we supposed to do? If you hadn't come at all, I'd have had a pretty good birthday. No, the part that upsets me is that you promised . You promised me you'd come, and you flaked out on me again ! I thought keeping your word was supposed to be your Ninja way? You seem to keep it for everyone else, but not for us! Do we just not matter? Is that it? Answer me! "

But Naruto felt like any apologies, and excuses, any defense, died in his throat right there and then. Boruto stood, breathing heavily for a moment, watching him. Waiting for a response. None came.

Boruto let out a cry of frustration and ran past Naruto, slamming the door open and sprinting off into the rain. In seconds, he was gone. Naruto turned to Hinata.