They had been extremely kind during his interview, and though he had known the predominance of caretaker work was seen to by Omega's; he had been shocked by how many he had encountered in one place, Omegas weren't particularly common afterall. All those he had come in contact with had seen him with his son, staring at his hands as he took his toddler out from the stroller and held him against his chest. Jiraiya squirming a small bit in his grip, Naruto shushed him because his hold wasn't tight enough to warrant such discomfort surely- his baby was just being restless in the new environment. It was unorthodox but he had been allowed to take the eager eyed boy with him during the meeting, simple questions directed upon him; though he had been uncomfortable when the interviewer had asked about his credentials, he had no experience in any work after all; though he had done his best to mention that he was adapt enough with caretaking that he would only need to be taught particulars about elder care. Though obviously she had been reassured by his words, because in a rare circumstance he had been informed that he was accepted after the interview, and that his first day would be tomorrow- though they had asked if the short notice was acceptable.
He had walked out with a grin on his face, cuddling his baby boy and planting a big kiss on his cheek. "See baby, your Mummy is going to be able to properly support you and your sister now!" Then. It ended, the joy cut free with sudden plunge off a cliff he had not seen, knife quick and sharp against his mentality. He did not realize that he had sat down on one of the soft benches lining the lobby area, numb for all sensation, he could hardly see the tile under his feet blurred enough that he couldn't see the separating cracks between. It was unconscious that his hands shook, but really he hadn't noticed, all of his muscles felt lax even if that wasn't completely true. Little hands were resting on his knees, he recognized them as Jiraiya's, but he could hardly move to take them into his own, they were clutching the orange fabric of his tights, tightly, pulling at the fabric. There was static in his ears, though there was a slight of muffled sound spiking it as a battered radio without a proper signal in random moments. Another blur came into his vision then, crisp pant legs, with knees on the floor and a vibration rumbling in the depths of his radio static. Gentle the press of human touch on his chin as his head was slowly lifted up from its reclusive posture. Vaguely he saw a large torso, an a suit jacket. Until his chin was facing upwards and he was looking upon the features of an elderly man. An Alpha, his instincts told him, features too sharp to be Beta or Omegan.
"Can you hear me Omega?" There was a break of the crackling in his ears, deep and rumbling enough to be distinct against the crackle. Even so, Naruto was numb enough to only manage a muted nod, his entire head felt both light and heavy at once. "Breathe deep and hold it in your lungs until I tell you to exhale." The instructions were hardly comprehensible, still he followed, the air almost escaping from his lips several times as he rather subconsciously waited. "Breathe." He let it lose, and his head felt a little more coherent, enough to take proper account of his senses. They did it again, and then three times after.
The feeling of the soft seat, the cold of his hands, the pull at his skin around the knees. Hear sounds like whispers around- rather rapid, the ache in his chest and the dryness in his mouth. Clarity in his vision as he stared into the deepened eyes of the senior man in front of him, intense and scrutinizing, assessing and wisened. The frown on dry lips pulling down their counterpart that which were intense frown lines, the hold on his chin from a thumb and finger.
"Mummy- mummy, mummy…" Came the clear whisper near him, hicuping, trembling, sobbing. Everything snapped into focus then, as did his gaze. Met with the sight of his poor baby boy shaking terribly, features scrunched up as they had when he had been a newborn, pulled and taut with distress. Entire face wet with tears, snot and saliva. He noted that the man released his chin as a passing notice, but he was too busy focusing on stretching out his still-shaking arms towards the sobbing toddler.
"Shush baby, I'm so sorry sweetie, mummy's okay." He was then met with armful of distressed son, and he held him close, a bit of a squeeze to his hold. Loud sobs in his ear, trembling little body quaking against his chest- and tears reached his own eyes for the sound and feeling. He pet at his son's head, locks of his thick wavy hair inbetween his fingers somehow comforting to him. Cradling his son under his chin he looked to the elderly gentleman whom had helped him regain attention; he was still siting down, though no longer resting on his knees, he had instead properly sat on the ground, a long leg stretched out, and the other a resting place for his arm. Staring at him with a relaxed gaze, evaluating enough that Naruto knew he was assessing if there was a chance he would relapse, though the blond did not actually know what it had been. Lopsided though it may be, the young mother managed to cast a genuine smile towards the man, he knew that he hadn't been coherent, worse he had managed to frighten his son and he choked on the thought.
"I- um, what-" he wanted to ask what had happened to himself, what would cause his entire world to contort as it had; but asking was embarrassing. He felt rather exposed, humiliated by his behaviour, loss of control. This was apparently enough, obvious to the man afore him, for while his express was rather neutral, it was by no means harsh- relaxed and calm.
"You had an anxiety attack, you disassociated and began hyperventilating." Ironically, Naruto found it rather hard to breathe at that moment, he'd had panic attacks before. After his assault he had been unable to handle his own body on occasion, the touch of other people made him want to hide- frightened of the streets and the moon's dark accomplice; during his pregnancy it had been a large concern- risking the health of his babies with his stress. Yet, they had never before been so… disconnected- his mind had been unable to process what he was feeling and where he was- previously, he had always felt everything too keenly, sounds to loud, shadows too big, floor too hard, the taste of his own blood in his mouth after biting his tongue; the pain thereafter.
He licked his lips, uncomfortable with knowing that truth. Especially that it had happened infront of his baby. "I- I didn't realize," though perhaps he should have, the man had used the same general technique his Mama had when he had been screaming at the closing walls. "I- thank you, I- I'm sorry you-" he had never had a bad panic attack in public either, and he felt as if a hundred red hot pokers were searing into his skin from the eyes watching him; he pointedly didn't look around.
"You waste your breath apologizing boy, I have no need for your thanks." It was curt and sharply said, but there was little bite in it- bordering on cold, but the way it sounded made Naruto comprehend it was not intended to sound harsh, nor even dismissive. It was said by a man with haunted eyes, too much flashing behind the warm tinge of his dark irises. Perhaps he had seen too many similar circumstances in his past, and didn't see his actions as anything but logical.
"Well you have them anyway." He made an attempt to grin, he knew he could be brighter, he could stretch his cheeks without conscious thought previously, now however, his grin did not reach far and his cheeks hurt for the attempt. The gentleman snorted rather quietly, a freckle of amusement showing at his lips as his eyes dropped away from their evaluation of the blond. He began to stand instead, and Naruto followed suit, clinging toddler in his arms as he did so. Then found himself almost underneath the pectoral point of the Alpha who had helped him, even with his stiletto's on- Naruto knew he wasn't the tallest Omega out there, but he was not quite short either. The man was a tower above him, he couldn't see his face properly from their distance, just his chin. At eyelevel was the man's 1930s-style suit jacket and striped tie. For Naruto, it had taken two years for him to properly feel comfortable around Alpha without being intimidated by their stature after his assult, Sakura being the only exception- but presently, he was most certainly daunted by the height of the senior in front of him.
He was halted from speaking when a slender Beta man came forth with a bit of a haggard appearance. "Sir!" There was a few disorganized papers in his hands and a generally scattered look about him which well indicated a state of unrest, if the purple smears under his eyes didn't. His companion glanced towards him briefly, apparently halting his movements, Naruto stepped back a fraction when the Alpha returned his attention to himself, just so that he could see the man's face properly.
"Are you well Omega?" A little ashamed and shaken in honesty, but the gentleman didn't need to know that, so Naruto kept himself upheld with a delicate nod, his son on his hip with sobs that had turned into hiccups. Despite his grin prior to rising, his smile had turned tentative and he knew it did not appear in anyway calm. "Then I bid you good day fair Omady, do excuse me." It was rather telling of his experience within life that the simple title of 'Omady' caused a blush to inflare upon his cheeks. Such a title was acknowledged to only be used for high-standing Omega with rich husbands and large diamond rings hanging off their fingers- there had never been a time Naruto had been called such. Perhaps it was a bit rude, but as the man stepped around him, the blond found his eyes following his back, curiosity intermingling with a flattered mindset the cause. The Beta man handed the stranger some papers, which he was reading with both a bored and focused express- Naruto knew the man's visage was in fact rather stoic, but he found it easy to differentiate the different emotions and mentalities crossing over it, though they were only slightly shown. Naruto wondered what could make the man look such a way- well they were in a retirement home, so the blond could easily understand why the elderly gentleman was there, but reading over what Naruto could only assume was paperwork seemed odd.
Naturally, that was the moment when dark eyes glanced upwards, directly towards himself, and Naruto felt immediate shame corse through him, gaze quickly snapping to the vacant stroller near. Shaking himself away from his interest in order to strap his toddler into his ride, he was already embarrassed enough, he hadn't wanted to be caught staring at the man- flattered by his civility or not.
Jiraiya had calmed enough, and with how messy his face was, nose entirely wet and snotted around the edges, red eyes, the young mother was hardly surprised that his son was drifting towards dreams. Regardless, he glanced around a little, he hadn't expected a breakdown and had not brought any extra-soft tissues therein. A normal tissue would have to do, but there was none of those in his bag either, they were near the reception desk, but he could see only an empty box on the counter- he may have pouted in that general direction with the sight. There was nothing for it really, and with a put upon sigh; he pulled down one of his long sleeves, catching in his palm, he wiped at his son's face, it was a bit ineffective as it was not completely clean as a wipe would have been, but it got the majority of snot and tears off the toddler's sensitive skin. He stood with a cringe, and avoided the sight of his dirty sleeve. Snot, tears and saliva on your sleeve was simply being a parent.
He was still shaking slightly as he walked to the doors, but despite his own still red cheeks he glanced over his shoulder to the elderly man who'd aided him and did his best to offer a grateful smile, even if the man's eyes did not stray from the paper. It was a margin fulfilling to do so regardless.
"NO!" It rang in his ears all too loudly, a screech against his eardrums and most unwelcome at eight in the morning. Following with stomping feet and red blotches of colour on chubby cheeks. Perhaps it was testament to his own mood that had the fair Omega at wits end, because normally his patience was rather vast whence his children came into temper tantrums; today however there was sandpaper scraping away at his self-control. Worsened by the fact it had only been a scarce few minutes ongoing. They were at the daycare gates, painted white to look friendly and infront of a modern one story building with a classical design, it was meant to appear inviting, child-friendly to parents and kids alike. However, Jiraiya had learned fast -to fast in Naruto's opinion- that coming there meant separation from his mother and he never took it well. Today's tantrum was rather intense compared to others, it was booming loud and the toddler was screaming out for all passersby to hear him.
"Baby please, Mummy needs to-" Pleading was hardly getting anywhere, this was his fifth attempt.
"NO!" There was another shout, and Naruto sagged slightly with the sound, a loud sigh following. Jiraiya threw fits, that wasn't uncommon, but this particular one was bad, and taking far too long; he was uncertain on how to pacify his child- he didn't have much time to get to work now. He couldn't be late on his first day, yet he didn't want to leave his son in such a state. There was more then anger escaping him, and it made pits in his stomach to know that fact. Yet, there were no words he could fathom to confront that reality- they stayed stuck in his throat, and he did not want to dig them up. Nor did he wish to leave his son at all, but the blond was adamant about earning more for his family, and he had the opportunity now to be able to do so. From the upper corner of his vision, he spotted one of the daycare volunteers coming forward, a gentle smile holding her expression, kind eyes and placating posturing. He sagged upon seeing her, relief coming forward, a smidge of guilt with it.
"Don't worry Mr. Uzumaki, we'll take care of him." It did nothing for the toddler petulantly crying in front of him, but Naruto kissed his forehead sweetly- and he felt better. Though Jiraiya screamed in protest as he was picked up and taken into the daycare- it made the young Omega cough in self-protest; then breathed as deep as possible. Those steel eyes perpetrated his gaze, determination fixating into his being as he turned away, taking mental solace in the fact that the nursing home was only a few blocks away- indeed that his son would be safe away from him in such a place.
Today he had made certain to wear his long light pink boho skirt and the same tone long turtleneck sweater, comfortable trainers on his feet, hopefully managing to portray the desired 'warm' disposition the letter had requested. The wind was bellowing heavily however, the skies being grey overhead, and he was very glad he had the foresight to have put his mac' in his large shoulder purse before having left. There was likely to be a storm in the evening and he'd dressed his baby in his raincoat prior to leaving, because the clouds had been rather telling as they were getting ready- and were certainly worse now.
He wiped a hand down his face, holding himself steady, moving one foot in front of the other, he wanted to turn around- go home with his son. Yet, he knew better, and that was how he managed to enter building without letting himself scumb to selfish want. He'd entered through the staff way, considerably less presentable then that of the main entrance- understandably he supposed. There was an elevator to his left, and a type sitting, relaxation area to his right with a couch and small table- the caretakers no doubt needed it. There was also a small kitchenette, slightly smaller then Naruto's own at home, some bakery and cafe goods on the countertop, along with a kettle on the stove and coffee maker nearby. Upon his entrance, several of them smiled at him in greeting, and though he was rather uncertain he smiled as bright as he could in return, the busy Beta he had seen yesterday steps forward with a slight smile- his right arm however was turned with the forearm facing forward, though it was limp. Naruto forcefully kept his eyes on the man's approach, not wanting to be rude.
"Mr. Uzumaki, welcome to Three Tomoe Nursing Home, we haven't met yet, but my name is Sora Stewert, I'm the head of staff." Naruto took the outstretched hand with a smile, already happy to hear the words; some part of his mentality -he figured- had still considered his employment a trick or a prank. "Now, I would have normally conducted your interview myself, but yesterday was rather hectic, and I had to ask Sue to do so instead. I'll show you about." He gestured with his good arm towards the door leading further into the building, even going so far as to open it for him, and inspite of his want to keep proper composure in front of his new boss- he did blush with the action; it was a rare thing to see, he grinned for it in fact.
"Now, we house around ninety residents at the moment, including several veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder; they receive special care from our psychiatric staff and if an episode or lapse occurs it would be best if you call a code purple rather then deal with it yourself. This is no insult unto you Mr. Uzumaki, but it can be delicate to deal with, even with proper medical training." It was absentminded but Naruto twirled his fingers about at the directions, he still nodded however. "I'm certain you know that we are short on staff at the moment with the recent movement," a hiss lay hidden underneath his words and only a fool would have missed it. "You said in your interview that you have no official qualifications in nursing or elder care, but you are a single mother, yes?"
"Oh yes, two-" He coughed when there was a blockage in his throat, chest tight and eyes feeling as if they were tingling. "-three years old." Clearing his throat, he let lose the slightest laugh- he didn't know how it sounded, but it tasted bitter. "My Mum has been helping us out quite a bit, and its not fair to him, so, here I am."
"Well there are some similar aspects, but we will be appointing a mentor of sorts for you."