Having your blood infused with mako injections granted the body with superhero strength and stamina but it also had plenty of side effects, like being an incredibly light sleeper and waking up at the slightest sound of someone’s boots creaking across the wooden floorboards.
“I’m SOLDIER remember?” the blonde grunted, opening one eye and glaring pointedly at the one-armed eco-terrorist. “I don’t need as much sleep as other people and what’s the point in taking my boots off? I’m gonna put them back on in a few hours anyway. Might as well be prepared to move at a moments notice.”
Which was true, Aerith was still missing and they were all wanted fugitives by Shinra. Although this place was a safe refuge or the moment, the Turks knew this location and anyone could come knocking at the door any day now.
“You can relax, you know, I’m not your kid or anything.” He grumbled, wondering if this was some sort of parental instinct talking. “Why are you still up anyway?”
A quiet, almost amused scoff at the glare that meets him, and he nods his head upward as if to brush it off. “Yeah, yeah, I know; SOLDIER, an’ all. Guess it ain’t really any of my business, but--” He trails off, eyes rolling to a different direction as he shrugs. “Hell, if you don’t treat yourself right, you just end up payin’ for it later, is all. Just ‘cause y’can run off just a little light sleep, doesn’t mean y’should... ” And Barret moseys his way past Cloud, trying to scout for a spot his own tired, larger frame could hunker down on, too. “Might just be the ‘old man’ in me talkin’ after all, though.” And he huffs to himself.
When he finally decides on a spot, “Why am I still up?” He repeats, like he just realizes it himself. It pauses him, if just for a second, and he folds his arms--as best he can, at least--in thought, until finally, he moves into his own corner, and reclines down onto the floor, back to the wall, admitting, “I don’t rightly know myself.” With an audible exhale, and Barret tips his head back; he casts a pensive look to the ceiling, counting the support beams. “Can’t sleep, looks like. Lot’s happened. You know.”
... Another pause, and finally, he cracks his neck, shakes his head. “Man, I just don’t get how you do it! SOLDIER or not--! Ugh,” Hand reaches, pressing on the base of his neck and he rolls his shoulders. “--You better be takin’ care of yourself, especially after everything that’s happened. I don’t care how old I sound...!”