When you wish... || Closed with vagxry
Hazel slung her bag over the back of the bar's chair, then hung her jacket over top of it. A slight deterrent to would-be thieves. Not that this bar was particularly seedy, or more likely to have thieves than any other; it was simply the principle of the matter. She wasn't going to make it easy.
She settled in the chair and flagged down a server. A pint of something dark and malty paired with a fish and chips platter sounded ideal. She was chilled and tired and wanted comfort food that for once she wasn't cooking for herself. She also wasn't ready to go home yet to her perpetually-empty flat. She was groundside for a fortnight to file reports and paperwork, go through yearly security, medical and dental processes, and had gotten pulled into a sweep search in the city for rogue HYDRA agents that were suspected to be lurking around. Nothing yet on that front, either it was just rumours or they were being magnificently sneaky. It had proven to be a long cold day and she was done with the hunt for now.
She had also gone to see Bryce's brothers. They were darling and funny as always, but they had no news for her regarding Bryce, and she had none for them, so it was ultimately an exercise in frustration for all of them. She suspected that there was no need to explain to either of them that each passing day with no update was a step further into despair. Bryce was their blood and her heart and it was desperate all around.
Her food and drink arrived to distract her from that sad line of thoughts. She took a long pull from the stout before tucking into the blessedly hot fish and potatoes. She took her time. She knew she'd have to go home once she was done, a hot bath and some tea and a good night's sleep actually sounded ideal. But the loneliness would follow her there and she intensely disliked the prospect of dealing with it yet again, alone in the night and likely weepy and cursing the fates by the time sleep took her. She wished suddenly and selfishly with all her heart that she could move on, find someone who would be there and not fade away as all of her lovers seemed to after a short time, a real partner to live and love with and count on to stay. Wishful thinking never did much but it was honest at least. And she felt miserable for it.
