Honestly, with all the whining Kotetsu did as he settled down, someone might have thought Barnaby had forced the old man to join him. "The sooner we get this armor off, the sooner we can get some real rest," Barnaby admitted. "But I wanted to take a moment to collect my thoughts."

After all, taking off their power suits technically left them more vulnerable in case they were unexpectedly attacked, and it also signaled an acceptance that they were here to stay for at least awhile.

After everything he'd heard and seen, Barnaby realized that the sooner they got over that mental hurdle, the better. But he also knew himself well enough to understand when he was starting to feel overwhelmed, and there was still something to be said for allowing his mind to rest for a few moments before deciding what to do next.

Closing his eyes, he leaned his head back against the wall and allowed himself to just breathe.