Hyperfixation Central

Screenshot. Blocked. Done.

Bucky walked in with a mug in his hand and took a seat beside you, which brought a small smile to your face. He liked being close. You were one of the only people he let into his personal space bubble.

“You okay?” he asked when you set your phone down. “You’re being quiet.”

“I’m quiet sometimes,” you tried to tease.

He tilted his head. “No, this is a different kind of quiet. Something happened,” he said because he knew you so well. “And I want to fix it.”

You smiled again. Of course, he wanted to fix it. That was the kind of man he was. 

“Apparently, I’m too old to have hobbies,” you stated.

An adorably confused look crossed his face and you wanted to kiss him for being so cute. “You’re… what?”

“I got some anonymous ask on my blog basically telling me to stop posting fanfiction because I’m too old and I should do something my age,” you explained, showing him the screenshot.

Bucky stared at the screenshot, his fingers twitching before they curled into fists. He didn’t say anything. It didn’t even look like he was breathing.

The cold that filled his blue eyes told you he was about two seconds from somehow climbing into the internet and finding this person.

“And before you asked, I didn’t respond. I blocked them,” you explained, keeping the phone out of his reach. “They’re just trolling or trying to get a reaction.”

One of the wonderful things about your blog was that you could curate it for your own experience. If you didn’t want to respond to rude asks or messages, you didn’t have to. If you wanted to, you could. It was that simple.

A downside of the website was that some people seemed to forget to curate their own experiences, like simply unfollowing or blocking blogs and tags if they didn’t like, agree, or want to see them.

“I am reacting,” Bucky said in a quiet voice tinged with building rage.

“I noticed,” you said, not flinching when he set the mug down with a little more force than necessary and took a deep breath.

“That… is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever read, and I’ve read a lot of stuff.”

You almost laughed, but he was dead serious.

“Does this…” He gestured to your phone and flexed his fingers again. “Askhole really thinks that there’s an expiration date on hobbies? Because there isn’t.”

You shifted and tucked your legs underneath you, giving him your full attention.

“That’s so fucking…” He let out a bitter laugh. “People collect baseball cards into their seventies. Eighties. They paint miniature trains. Build model airplanes. Knit. Garden. Fish. Hunt.”

“They do,” you agreed, running your fingers through his hair just because you could.

He closed his eyes at your touch before he continued. “People go to comic cons and cosplay. They play D&D. Video games.” His voice was starting to rise and your nails touched his scalp again. “And what about grown ass men paint their faces and spend entire weekends yelling at sports games?”

“You sound personally offended.”

He looked at you incredulously. “I am personally offended on your behalf.”

You snuck in a kiss because you couldn’t help yourself. You felt some of the anger leave his body when your lips touched. It meant a lot that he cared so much.

“Don’t distract me,” he whispered.

“I’m not,” you whispered back, smiling when you pulled away. “You just have very kissable lips.”

“So do you,” he said with a smile before he frowned. “But I’m still not happy because they’re acting like people writing stories is somehow less respectable because what? Other people read them online and not from a book?”

You shrugged a little. “It’s fanfiction,” you said softly.

He shrugged, too. “So?”

“So…” You tried to find the words. “Some people think it's an inferior form of writing and a waste of time.”

His brows pinched, something sad filling his eyes. “I think creating something that makes you happy is one of the most adult and superior things you could do.”

You were quiet for a moment. “Really?”

“Really.” He opened his arms for you to move close. “You have two kids who love and adore you and vice versa, and they’re busy with so many activities that you have a calendar to keep it all straight. You make sure they’re never without.”

Your heart swelled. Your babies. No matter how old they got, they would always be your babies. And you wanted them to thrive in life. That was one of the reasons you worked so hard to give them not just a nice home, but a loving one.

“You work 40 hours a week. Sometimes more,” he said, his lips brushing the top of your head. “You pour so much of yourself into that job and your teammates that it wears on you by the end of the week.”

Mist filled your eyes. You did put a lot into your job because your parents taught you the value of hard work. And as frustrating as growth in your job could be, there were perks to your job and you had a great team. That wasn’t easy to come by.

“And when you aren’t pouring yourself into the kids or work, you have a pretty amazing husband who always wants your attention,” he teased, tilting your chin up with a tender smile. “Seriously, I can’t keep my hands off you half the time.”

Heat filled your cheeks and a laugh bubbled up. It amazed you after so many years how your husband still wanted you. Still admired you. He was an amazing partner and father.

You couldn’t ask for anyone better.

“And when you aren’t dealing with a handy husband.” He smirked a little. “You’re paying bills, handling responsibilities, and checking on others. Online and offline.”

Your heart sank a little. Messages sometimes went unanswered. Asks got buried. Comments got late replies. Not on purpose. Never on purpose.

But you felt guilty just the same. It didn’t feel like enough some days. There wasn’t enough time. There wasn’t enough of you to go around. 

“I try,” you said sadly.

“You do your best, and people see that,” he said proudly. “And after all that, you write.”

“Yeah.”

You wished you could write every single day. Life rarely gave you the opportunity to do so. You accepted that.

“I’m in fucking awe of you,” he said so seriously that your mouth fell open. “And not just you, but the community you all have online. They may not have your same kind of life or schedule, but they have their own struggles and they still find the time to create and share. You all help keep fandoms alive.”

Everyone had a life and a story to tell. Everyone had their hardships. That was one of the reasons so many of you gravitated to certain characters and communities. Life was tough enough. Building connections helped.

“I guess we do,” you said, much softer.

“Does that piece of shit askhole realize that your creations have touched people? Helped people?” 

“I haven’t-”

He silenced you with a deep kiss, the words dying in your throat.

“Don’t you dare say that your writing hasn’t touched or helped at least one person because it has,” he said fiercely, cupping your cheek. “Fluff, smut, angst, soft, dark. There’s something for everyone.”

You did your best to provide a variety of stories, and you adored your readers. They were cheerleaders, supporters, and friends. You wanted them to feel loved and cared for. They deserved that. 

“And some coward.” The word tasted bitter in his mouth. “Hiding behind a button doesn’t get to treat you like you don’t belong in your own space because of your age.”

Your eyes burned again. “Bucky…”

“Not to mention, you do this for free in the very limited free time you have.” He brushed his thumb along your cheek. “I’m glad you blocked them. You don’t need that trash in your inbox.”

“I’m glad, too.”

It wasn’t the sort of energy you needed in your space, and blocking them helped take your power back.

“And look at me? I’m over a hundred years old. I’m an old fucking man, and I still have hobbies.” He smiled when you snorted. “Like jumping out of planes.”

“You take after Steve,” you joked. 

That beautiful man could be reckless in the best way.

“I like old records.”

“And we dance in the kitchen while listening to them.”

You always felt cherished when he held you close.

“I read,” he said, nodding to the chair where he usually sat to read.

“I should get you reading glasses,” you mused.

Even if he didn’t need them, he’d look sexy in them.

“I’m a science nerd,” he stated proudly.

“I still want to get your glasses.”

Because nerds were sexy as hell.

“I like fixing motorcycles.”

You sighed dreamily. “And you look good on your bike.”

Maybe he could take you for a ride later… in more ways than one.

“I bake with Sam’s nephews.”

You sighed again because the man looked good with kids. “They do love when you add extra chocolate chips to cookies.”

“Extra chocolate chips make it better.” He winked. “And I’m still saving the world every so often.”

You put your hand over his. “My hero.”

“So, if I can still have hobbies at my age, why can’t you?” he asked rhetorically. “If this person really thinks people should stop once they hit a certain, they’re going to live a sad life. If anything, people get better at their hobbies because they’re getting more experience which happens with age.”

You didn’t disagree.

“I don’t care if you’re in your twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, whatever age,” he promised you. “If it brings you joy? If you love it? Then don’t stop creating. Don’t stop writing your stories.”

You closed your eyes when he kissed your forehead. “Even the self-indulgent ones?”

He smiled against your skin. “Especially the self-indulgent ones.”

“Even if I write about other characters?” 

“I’ll support you,” he promised.

“What if someone else says I’m still too old?” you asked.

“Then I’ll remind them, once again, that I’m over a hundred years old and they can get fucked.”

“You look very good for your age.” You giggled when he playfully growled and managed to grab your phone. “Hey!”

“You look very good for your age.” You giggled when he playfully growled and managed to grab your phone. “Hey!”

“Forget about them,” he ordered, tucking the device away. “And talk to me about one of the next ideas brewing in that beautiful brain of yours.”

An almost shy smile appeared on your face. Almost. He knew better.

“It might be better if I… show you.”

He leaned back against the cushion and helped you straddle him, his eyes dark as his hands settled on your hips. “I like the sound of that.”

You stopped him before he could pull you down for a kiss. “Bucky?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

You gazed at the man who brought so much light into your life. He helped you connect to others. He fueled your creativity. 

You felt very lucky.

“Thanks for loving and seeing me,” you whispered.

His eyes softened. “Thanks for loving and seeing me, too,” he said, meeting you halfway. “And if some askhole bothers you again, send them my way.”

“Yes, sir,” you teased, letting him kiss you.

So, yes, you’d keep posting your stories on your blog.

The self-indulgent ones. The ones you struggled to tell. The ones you put your blood, sweat, and tears into.

You’d joke about the writing process. You’d apologize for late updates. You’d keep on doing what you were doing.

Because there was no expiration date on creativity and hobbies.

And anyone who thought there was?

Well, they didn’t need to read your stories. 

Yep. I'm a mom. A wife. A friend. I work. I adult. Fanfiction isn't just fanfiction, lovelies. It's community. Keep doing you. Curate your own experience. Love and thanks for reading. ❤️

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💤 FALLING ASLEEP ON THEM unintentional closeness → realization / softness / caretaking 💤 "Have a nice nap?" / "I thought you were going to sleep forever." / "Shh, go back to sleep baby."

🌙 GOLDEN HOUR that in between moment → realization scenes / soft almosts / quiet tension 🌙 “It’s weird… everything looks different right now. You do too.” / “If I say something, will it ruin this?” / “We should probably go. - Yeah… just—give me a second.”

🧺 PICNIC BASKET something hidden inside → secrets revealed / gifts / unexpected confessions 🧺 “That wasn’t in there earlier. - “Yeah. I didn’t know how to give it to you.” / “You brought this… for me?” / “If I show you, you can’t pretend you didn’t see it.”

🪑SAVED SEAT someone always leaves space for you → quiet devotion / unspoken care / to be loved is to be known 🪑 “You always sit there. - Only when you’re here.” / “Was this—saved? - “It usually is.” / “I didn’t think you’d come. - “I didn’t think you’d leave me a spot.”

🌌 FIREWORKS ENDING silence after the noise → emotional comedown / realization / loneliness or peace 🌌 “It’s really quiet now.” / “I liked it better when I couldn’t hear myself think.” / “So… what happens after this?”

☀️ SUNBURN caretaking + vulnerability → tending to someone / soft touches / quiet intimacy ☀️ “Hold still—you’re gonna make it worse.” / “You don’t have to take care of me like this. - I know.” / “Does it hurt? - Not as much as you hovering.”

🍴 "TRY MINE" sharing food & sharing space → intimacy / trust / soft flirting 🍴 “Here—just take it. - “I could’ve asked. - You never do.” / “You always give me the better one.” / “Try it? For me?”

🪑 FOLD OUT CHAIRS side by side conversations → late-night talks / emotional honesty 🪑 “Funny how it’s easier to say things when we’re not looking at each other.” / “We’ve never actually talked about this, have we?” / “If I say it now, I can’t take it back.”

🛏️ AFTERNOON NAP lazy, quiet closeness → drifting in and out of sleep together / accidental cuddling 🛏️ “You’re still here. - “Wasn’t planning on moving.” / “Did I fall asleep on you? - “Yeah… didn’t mind.”/ “We should get up. -“In a minute.”

⏳ WAITING for them to show up + change → doubt / hope / payoff reunion ⏳“You said you’d come back.” / “I almost stopped waiting. - “Almost?” / “You’re late. - “I know. I’m still here.”

🧃 JUICE BOX playful, youthful energy → carefree chaos / laughter / childhood nostalgia 🧃 “You just sprayed that everywhere. - Worth it.” / “When did we start acting like kids again?” / “Don’t laugh—I’m serious. - “That’s the problem.”

🌾 TALL GRASS half-hidden, tucked away → private conversations / secret kisses / hiding from others 🌾 “No one can see us out here.” / “We shouldn’t be hiding. - “Then why are we?” / “It feels different when it’s just us.”

🕶️ SUNGLASSES seeing + not seeing → stolen glances / hiding feelings / perception vs reality 🕶️ “I can tell you’re staring. - You can’t even see my eyes.” / “You hide behind those a lot. - “Maybe I need to.” / “Take them off. - “Why?“ - So I know what you’re thinking.”

🧁 CUPCAKES small celebrations → “it’s not a big deal” birthdays / quiet milestones / soft surprises 🧁 “It’s not a big deal. - “Then why’d you remember?” / “You got these for me? - “Don’t make it weird.” / “Make a wish. - “You already know what it is.”

🪵 WOODEN FENCE leaning, waiting → watching from afar / longing / quiet observation 🪵 “You’ve been standing there a while.” / “I didn’t think you’d notice me.” / “You always look like you’re about to leave.”

🧂 POTATO CHIPS light, messy, impossible to eat just one → casual closeness / reaching into the same bag / lingering touches 🧂 “You’re gonna finish the whole bag. - “Watch me.” / "My hand was already there. - “So was mine.” / “You don’t mind sharing? - Not with you.”

🎆 FIREWORKS big emotions, louder than expected → confessions / overwhelm / emotional release 🎆 “I can’t hear you—what did you say?” / “I said I—” boom / “Fine. I’ll say it again.”

🍽️ PAPER PLATES temporary but meaningful → fleeting moments that still matter / this won’t last, but it’s real 🍽️ “This is kind of temporary, isn’t it?” / “Does it matter if it is?” / “I think I’d still choose this.”

🔕 MISSED CALL almost connection, the one that got away → timing issues / regret / what could’ve been 🔕 “I tried calling. - “I know.” / “Why didn’t you pick up? - “I didn’t know what to say.” / “You were supposed to be there.”

🍦MELTING ICE CREAM time running out + fleeting moment → rushed confession / “before it’s too late” energy 🍦 “It’s gonna melt. - “Then say it faster.” / “We’re running out of time. - “Then don’t waste it.” / “Just—before it’s gone…”

💫 WATCHING THE STARS TOGETHER sneaky love + soft touches → falling asleep together / naming the stars after each other / forced (welcomed) proximity 💫 “That one’s yours. - “You can’t just claim stars.” / “You’re closer than you think.” / “If we stay like this, I might fall asleep. - “Then stay.”

⛺ BONFIRE warmth in the dark → storytelling / vulnerability / shared silence ⛺ “You don’t have to tell the whole story.” / “It’s easier in the dark.” / “I didn’t think anyone was listening. - “I always am.”

🌊 LATE NIGHT LAKE SWIM daring love + hidden feelings → romantic tension / almost confessions 🌊 “It’s freezing. - “You jumped in first.” / “You look different out here.” / “If I say something stupid, blame the cold water.”

🍯 HONEY slow, golden, lingering → drawn-out tension / soft touches that last too long 🍯 “You’re taking your time. - “I’m not in a hurry.” / “You always do that—linger.” / “Say it already. - “Not yet.”

🎇 FIRECRACKER sudden, sharp reaction → arguments / impulsive confessions / tension snapping 🎇 “Why are you acting like this?” / “Because you won’t just say it!” / “Fine—then listen.”

📸 DISPOSABLE CAMERA captured moments → memories / realizing feelings after the fact / almost too late 📸 “Don’t delete that. - “I wasn’t going to.” / “You kept all of these? - “Every single one.” / “That’s when it started, wasn’t it?”

🌧️ SUDDEN RAIN plans interrupted → running for cover / laughter / forced closeness 🌧️ “Run! - “Where?”/ “You’re soaked." -“So are you.” / “We should’ve checked the weather.” - “I’m glad we didn’t.”

🌳 SHADED TREE relief from the heat → safe space / emotional grounding / leaning on someone 🌳 “Come sit. You look like you need it.” / “It’s cooler here.” - “Stay, then.” / “You always find the quiet spots.”

🐜 ANTS tiny annoyance crowding into a big moment → interrupted confession / forced proximity / comedic tension 🐜“Don’t move—there’s—” / “Why are you so close?” - “Because you won’t stop moving.” / “This is not how I pictured this going.”

🍓 STRAWBERRIES soft, indulgent, a little romantic → feeding each other / quiet affection / yearning 🍓 “Here—try it like this.” / “You’re staring.” - “You make it hard not to.” / “You always give me the sweeter ones.”

✨ SPARKLERS brief but bright → momentary romance / realization of feelings / magical moment ✨ “It won’t last long.” / “Then don’t waste it.” / “Look at you—you’re glowing.”

🎡 CARNIVAL NEARBY distant music and lights → yearning / wanting something more / chasing a feeling 🎡 “We could go, you know.” - “Or we could stay.” / “You ever feel like you’re missing something?” / “I think this is enough.”

🍋 LEMONADE something sour turning soft → enemies to lovers lite / misunderstandings / emotional resolution 🍋 “You don’t hate me that much, do you?” / “It gets better, I promise.” / "Flirting? Me? I wouldn't call it that."

💛 BEFORE THE SUN GOES DOWN aware of fleeting happiness + trying to memorize the moment → noticing details / fear of losing it 💛 “You’re doing that thing again.” - “What thing?” - “Trying not to forget.” / “Say something so I remember this right.” / “I wish I could pause this.”

📦 LEFTOVERS what’s left behind → memories / things unsaid / emotional residue 📦 “You can take this with you."/ “Feels weird packing it up." /“Not everything gets finished.”

☕ MORNING AFTER PICNIC soft aftermath → quiet conversation / reflection / “we should do this again” ☕ “We should probably talk about yesterday.” / “Do you have to go?” / “Same time next week?”

🧻 NAPKINS cleaning up a mess → vulnerability after something goes wrong / wiping tears / gentle care 🧻 “Hey—look at me.” / “It’s just a mess. We’ll fix it.” / “You don’t have to pretend you’re okay.”

🍉 WATERMELON sticky fingers, shared bites, sweetness that lingers → first kisses / almost kisses / teasing intimacy 🍉 “You’ve got juice all over your hands.” / “Then help me clean it.” / “You missed a spot.”

🍞BRUSHING NON-EXISTENT CRUMBS OFF crushing hard + scared to admit it → lingering touch / excuse for contact / care disguised as habit 🍞 “Hold still.” / “There’s nothing there.” - “I know.” / “You don’t have to find excuses.”

🌬️ SUMMER BREEZE soft, barely there → almost touches / words left unsaid / quiet longing 🌬️ “Did you feel that?” / “You almost touched me.” / “Almost doesn’t count.”

🚗 IN THE TRUCK BED open air, close proximity → stargazing / late-night talks / accidental intimacy 🚗 “There’s more space than I thought.” - “Not really.” / “You can lean if you want.” / “Don’t fall.” - “Then don’t move.”

🫙WATCHING THE FIREFLIES COME OUT summer crush → not realizing how close the other is / brushing hands 🫙 “You’re closer than you were a second ago.” / “Don’t scare them off.” / “I wasn’t looking at the fireflies.”

💬 OVERHEARD CONVERSATION something you weren’t supposed to hear → misunderstandings / accidental confessions 💬 “How long were you standing there?” / “Long enough.” / “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”

🏡 BACKYARD LIGHTS soft glow at night → slow dancing / late-night confessions / lingering after everyone leaves 🏡 “Dance with me.” - “There’s no music.” - “There doesn’t have to be.” / “Stay until they turn off.” / “Just one more song.”

🎈WATER BALLOON FIGHT chaotic love + messy aftermath → picking pieces from their hair / hanging up wet clothes / sharing a towel 🎈 “You started it!” - “You escalated it!” / “You’re soaked.” - “So are you.” / “Come here—hold still.”

🥗 PASTA SALAD thrown together but somehow perfect → unlikely dynamics / found family / chaotic group settings 🥗 “This shouldn’t work, but it does.” / “Kind of like us.” / “Don’t say that like it’s a bad thing.”

🍒 CHERRIES sweet with a hint of tension → playful teasing / “tie the stem” flirting / building tension 🍒 “You’re not actually going to try that, are you?” / “Watch me.” / “You’re unbelievable.”

🧺 PACKING THE PICNIC preparation as love → doing things for someone before they even ask 🧺 “You already thought of everything.” / “I know what you like.” / “You didn’t have to do all this.” - “I wanted to.”

🌻 WILDFLOWERS simple, soft, meaningful → “i saw this and thought of you” / gentle love 🌻 “These aren’t anything special.” - “They are to me.” / “You picked these?” - “I saw them and—yeah.” / “You think of me when you’re not here?”

🌅 LAST SUMMER TOGETHER knowing it’s ending → goodbye energy / nostalgia / unresolved feelings 🌅 “Let’s not talk about what happens after.” / “Just this once, okay?” / “I’m going to miss this.”

🚶 WALKING AWAY choosing distance → self-protection / heartbreak / growth 🚶 “Don’t follow me.” / “If I stay again, I won’t leave at all.” / “This isn’t me giving up.”

🎶 PORTABLE RADIO music drifting through the air → dancing / memory-triggered moments / song-associated love 🎶 “You remember this song?” / “Don’t laugh—dance with me.” / “We used to—” - “I know.”

🥪 SANDWHICHES carefully made, quietly thoughtful → acts of service / knowing someone’s preferences / domestic intimacy 🥪 “You cut the crusts off.” - “You hate them.” / “You remembered that?” / “I always do.”

🤝 “WE'RE JUST FRIENDS” until it’s clearly not → blurred lines / tension / denial 🤝 “We’re not doing anything wrong.” / “Then why does it feel like we are?” / “Say it—we’re just friends.”

🧊 COOLER what’s kept hidden → secrets / things unsaid / emotional walls 🧊 “What else are you keeping in there?” / “Stuff you’re not ready for.” / “You don’t have to hide it from me."

✨ anything else i should know? just this: take your time, enjoy the process, and don’t overthink it

this collab is about capturing a feeling. something warm, fleeting, and worth holding onto 🌼

for any more questions/curiosities feel free to send a message my way so we can figure it out! thank you all so much and i can't wait to see what you guys write!

throwing a few tags out there, don't feel pressured into doing anything i just thought i would spread the word and make the blanket big enough for us all ✨