Nightshift
A look at the clock reveals that it is far too early to get up. The red numbers on the alarm clock tells him that it's just after two o'clock and he takes it as a sign to just go back to sleep. He turns around and wants to lie down closer to Bucky and realizes that he isn't in bed. Frowning, Clint sits up and looks toward the bathroom. The door is open. However, the light is off and he doesn't see anyone. There are no lights on in the lower part of the loft either.
He reaches for his hearing aids, the world slowly comes to life and then he goes down the loft stairs. The fire escape is empty, meaning Bucky can't get any fresh air. The couch is also unused. He's reached the final step when he sees a shadow out of the corner of his eye.
“Bucky?” he asks into the darkness and stops. Sitting on a chair a few steps from the door, Bucky stares steadily at the door as if he's waiting for something. "What are you doing?" Clint asks when he gets no response. “They’re coming,” Bucky replies, his voice quiet and rough, as if he’s afraid they’ll be heard. “Who’s coming?” Clint asks, stepping closer. He listens, but apart from the whirring of the refrigerator and the grinding noise of the air conditioning, he hears nothing.
“They’re coming,” Bucky repeats in a monotone voice. There isn't enough light to read Bucky's expression, but he's sure Bucky isn't fully awake and his mind is playing tricks on him again. “How long have you been sitting here?” A shrug is the answer. “How about I take the next shift. You rest a bit and I’ll keep watch?”
“I’m capable and-” Bucky starts but Clint cuts him off. “A person who needs a break. Staring at one point all the time is not good.” A few seconds pass in which Clint can sense Bucky's hesitation. “Just for an hour and wake me up if someone comes,” Bucky demands. “Of course,” Clint confirms, and then after another moment of hesitation, Bucky stands up.
Bucky sneaks through the room with quiet steps and when he reaches the couch he looks at the door as if he expects someone to come rushing in. But seconds pass in which nothing happens and so he lies down on the couch with a sigh. Clint now makes himself comfortable in the chair.
And then he guards.
The first rays of sunlight begin to cast his shadow on the door when he hears Bucky behind him. “You wanted to wake me up after an hour,” Bucky says in a rough, sleepy voice. Clint turns around in the chair. “You needed the sleep,” Clint explains, shrugging. A guilty look creeps onto Bucky's face. "You still would have let me-" "Your head was in the way-" Clint interrupts, getting up from the chair. “and you needed sleep. I'll just sleep now-" Clint lies down on the couch and takes the flannel blanket who is lying over the back of the couch and puts it over himself. “like a vampire,” Clint finishes with a grin and bites Bucky’s thigh teasingly.
“You idiot,” Bucky laughs and pushes Clint away a little, but then lies down again and wraps himself under the blanket as well.