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reasonableapproximation · 4 months

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I killed a mouse a while back. Unpleasant details under cut.

I've had mice to deal with several times before. Once in a previous flat, I tried to do it myself with various snap traps and homemade bucket traps, all baited with peanut butter. The buckets were just cardboard boxes so they probably would have just chewed their way out unless I found them really quickly. But they never got caught in any of them and eventually they just left.

Then in this flat, a few years back. Ally and I put down snap traps that they didn't go for, then glue, and... I don't remember if it was still somehow getting past the glue, or if we got the landlord to call someone in and we just put down the glue while we were waiting, or what. But someone showed up, found a hole behind the sink and cemented it up. Put down a trap of his own (a black box with bait inside, not sure if poison or trap-trap or what, I think it's actually still there). But we didn't see it again, and he came back a couple of weeks later to check.

A few months ago we had another, possibly multiple. Again we put down glue and had someone come in, not necessarily in that order. He was useless the first time, but we got the landlord to send him back and I think he blocked something up and we were fine for a bit. (I wasn't in when he came this time.)

And then just after christmas I woke up to scratching, and turned the light on and waited, and yep, a mouse scrabbled out from next to the wardrobe under the door and out.

I didn't want to get the landlord to send someone again, because the landlord didn't know Ally had moved out. I had been their main support network, and they were now in a psychiatric hospital. (From what they've told me, they hadn't attempted suicide but had been thinking about it enough to check themselves in.) I thought it wouldn't be helpful for some to call them to try to arrange access to the flat. Also I was annoyed at the previous guy having to come twice and then getting another straight after.

So I ordered more glue traps. They arrived on 29/12 and I put them down. They were in the archway between the kitchen and the living room, where maybe there'd be no way for the mouse to get to most of the flat without going over them - I don't remember if previous attempts have backed that theory up. I put peanut butter on one, chocolate on another and cheese on the third.

I was sleeping with a rug blocking my door, so I wouldn't really know if it was getting past them or not. But the next morning I woke up and went to check.

I was scared to look. I don't remember that from before. We'd split up less than two weeks ago, I think I was still pretty fragile.

The design on them, under the glue, made me jump a bit. Like, I was so hyper-attuned to the possibility of seeing a mouse that when I saw a drawing of a mouse (or more likely, just any vague blob where I worried a mouse might be) I reacted to it. But there was no mouse.

Next day, new years eve, same thing, except there was a mouse. I screamed a bit. It had gone past the bait without touching it and then gotten trapped. It looked dead. I thought about calling someone but didn't know who - obviously not Ally, and the person who'd been my main emotional support lately didn't enjoy talking about killing mice.

I psyched myself up and went to step over it to get a binbag. It twitched when I got close. I screamed again. I crouched down to look a bit closer (still from a distance) and saw it blink. It also looked like it had vomited a bit, but I'd recently seen on wikipedia that mice don't vomit. Maybe that was some small hairs that had gotten pulled out?

I thought of another friend who's had to put down animals before. I messaged to explain what was going on and ask if she was up for a call. She was. She also said she hates glue traps, which like, okay but I probably wouldn't have brought that up at that precise moment. I explained that I don't like them either but nothing else worked and this at least would keep them out of the rest of the flat and she said fair enough.

(She also said they were about to be made illegal? I haven't heard anything along those lines. She's way more clued in to that kind of thing than I am, but she's not epistemically careful enough for me to take this kind of thing on her word. Idk.)

I was freaking out a bit, talking fast and hyperventilating, and she calmly helped talk through the options. I didn't want to hit it with a hammer because then I'd never use that hammer again and I didn't want mouse everywhere. I didn't want to use a knife, similar reason. We decided I'd put some cardboard down over it and step on it.

When I dropped the cardboard it started wiggling. Oh fuck. Deep breaths. I stepped. Through my headphones, I heard it crunch. Fuck fuck fuck.

She had me step a few more times to make sure, then walked me through grabbing a binbag and getting the whole thing into it without having to see it. She comforted me that it's natural to freak out, it means I'm not a psychopath.

I hadn't expected it to be so bad. I spent the rest of the day mildly traumatized. I was seeing family, which helped. I told my mum, dad and brother, but not my grandmother. They were sympathetic. We saw Wonka, it was fun. Then I went to the pub to hang out with people from reddit, mostly either strangers or people I hadn't seen in years. That was fun too, but packed enough that I went home before the new year.

I put down more glue traps and kept the rug blocking my door. The next day I was scared to look again, but no mouse.

I also ordered some steel wool that day. I had a guess that it was getting in where the person years ago had blocked up, where the cement looked a bit loose. I regretted not ordering it sooner, I don't know why I hadn't. I think partly I wasn't wild about rummaging around under the sink but like, what was my plan? Kill a mouse and leave it's way in open?

Anyway, it arrived a couple days later and I blocked up that hole and moved the rug. I was going to leave the glue traps there for a bit longer just in case, but around about now my bath started leaking into my kitchen (adjacent to it, not underneath). I didn't realize that was what was happening at the time, I thought I'd somehow just spilled a load of water, but in any case they were soaked and I didn't have any more.

I think for the next few days I was still nervous to look there when I got up in the morning.

I'm okay now. It was one of the least fun things I've ever done, but I don't think it was morally bad of me. Like, I could have done better, I should have got the steel wool sooner. And I spent 30 minutes freaking out while it was trapped, if I hadn't freaked out I could have killed it sooner which would have been better. But under the circumstances I wouldn't judge someone else for acting like I did, and I don't judge me either.

I think it would have been a lot more psychologically pleasant for me to go out and leave it trapped and wait for it to die. But I think that would have been morally worse, and I'm glad I didn't.

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random-mha-thoughts · 2 years

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Dark Night (Kirishima x Reader)

Pairing: Kirishima x GN!Reader

Genre: Fluff

Anon asked: (I lost who actually asked this one, it's been a long time since I got it, I'm sorry!) "Hello! I know your requests are closed but this is just for when you get to it. An imagine for kirishima where s/o gets followed home and calls kiri scared. Lots of fluff please! This recently happened to me and it was really scary."

Word Count: 1,243

Warnings: Mentions of fear, following at night

Tags: @theyenvymarleyyy @yamichxn @liviitehe

A/N: Hi, I have a pounding headache from Memorial Day drinking and I have work early tomorrow morning, but I had to finish this one, so I banged out the end of this to help me feel better :)

Also happy 100th one shot for this blog!! Gosh, my brain conjures up too many scenarios lol. But honestly I couldn't have done it without a lot of your requests! Majority of these one shots have been because you all want to see me write things honestly I have no idea why but ok?? so thanks a bunch to all of you!

"Are you sure you're okay getting home by yourself?"

"It's pretty dark outside, we should walk you home."

I smiled at my friends' kindness. "It's okay, I'm just 10 minutes up the block."

Asui leans against the door frame, not convinced in the slightest. "I don't think this is safe, Y/N, it's really late."

"I'd blame myself if something happened to you," Ochaco holds my hand.

I wrench my hand away. "No, really, I don't want to put you guys out of your house for me, I'll be fine, really!"

"Text us the SECOND you get home!"

Well that was a great big lie.

If there's one thing my parents always scared me on growing up is never walking alone. I thought sticking to the well-lit business streets would help keep my nerves down, but the occasional cast of the streetlamps against the dark night wasn't assuring in the least. The lack of civilians at the late hour further cast an air of isolation. I found myself in a brisk walk through the streets, hurried by my fear of danger.

Why did I say no? A little company would've helped so much. Then again, there's no reason a group of thugs wouldn't take a small group of unarmed girls. I've heard that happen before, I couldn't let that happen to my friends.

I take a deep breath and put my hood up. Just 2 more blocks forward, then turn right and go straight to your block. You'll be fine. Any conversation with myself is a welcome distraction from the cold chill running down my spine.

There's an uneasiness as I cross another street to the next crosswalk. The sharp anchor slowly dawning in the back of my head is more distinct than the former chill. When I stop at the red crosswalk, I quickly dare a backwards glance. I wish I hadn't.

Behind me, a shadow of a person just a few meters away saunters in my direction.

I snap my head back forward. My heart starts beating faster as my mind cycles through every possible scenario that can happen. Getting hit in the head, shoving a chloroform rag in my face, sticking a needle in my neck, straight up being dragged into the nearest alleyway; flashes of danger hit me, each worse than the last. My body echoes a phantom, numbing chill at each method of assault my mind conjures up.

What do I do? I think of the videos I've seen online about what to do in this kind of situation. "If you think someone is following you, make 3 right turns because that means they've just went in a circle."

Fuck the crosswalk. I quickly turn right, refusing to wait until the light allows pedestrians to cross. My feet carry me faster as the light wanes from the main street. I've escaped the "safety" of the busy street for the even more isolated residential area. Whoever's chasing me won't have anyone to worry about witnessing whatever crime he's about to commit against me now. WHY did I do this?!

I turn my head half around to see if my pursuer is still on my tail, part of me hoping I was wrong, only to see them turning the corner without missing a beat. My heart sinks and I force myself to go faster without breaking into a run, my legs stiffening into an unnaturally brisk pace only folding at my hips. What do I do, what do I do now?!

I turn the next corner, faintly registering the burn in my legs. I have to think of something else, I can't keep running from them forever. I dart my eyes around to find some semblance of a person to help me if I need it, but the street is bare. Everyone's already safe in their homes while I'm out here in potential danger. Another stolen glance behind me proves that the figure is still following me. I'm only slightly relieved to see them just slightly farther away than before.

There's no one around me to help, I'll have to summon my own help.

I whip out my phone and call the first person I know on speed dial.

"Hey babe, how was-"

"Kiri, someone's following me," I breathe out.

It takes him a few heartbeats to respond. "Get somewhere safe and send me your location. Now." I hear him shuffling on the other side. "I'm coming to get you."

"Okay-"

"Stay on the phone with me if you can." I hear the jingle of his keys. "Try to stay calm."

A tinge of warmth quells my cold fear. "I'm trying, I'm just really scared."

"I know, but I'm coming to get you. You'll be safe with me soon."

I take a moment to appreciate the honey sweetness of his voice, picturing being in his arms under a warm bed. It reinvigorates me enough to turn the third corner and walk faster. The main street spread right in front of me. I tell him which street I'm on once I approach the intersection.

"Get inside the convenience store on the corner and wait in the bathroom," he instructs.

The door to the store is right there as I make the final right turn. I duck inside and hurry into the back where the bathroom is, locking myself in and leaning against the wall. I quickly send Kirishima my location and catch my breath for the first time in at least 15 minutes.

"Are you okay, babe?" he asks me through the phone.

"Yeah," I huff out. "I'm just a little wound up, that's all. Just hurry, please." A small part of me refuses to completely calm down until I'm at his house.

"I'm almost there, just at the light."

A few minutes pass of silence through the phone. I shut my eyes as my head spins.

"Alright, I'm in the store, it's me knocking."

Three raps on the door and I'm already standing and shoving the door open. At the first sight of his red hair, I collapse into his arms. "You're here."

His thick arms envelop me just as tightly. "I'm right here, I told you. Let's go home."

The entire way home, Kirishima keeps a hand on me at all times. He firmly keeps his grasp on my waist to the car, holds my hand the whole drive, and leads me with a hand on my back as we get into the house.

I find my way to his familiar bedroom, wrapping myself in his black comforter and curling into a ball. Only when I've settled in this position do I finally feel safe, the phantom anxiety still easing itself from the back of my mind.

Kirishima places a glass of water on his bedside table before getting into the bed with me. "You still scared, babe?"

I immediately nuzzle into his chest and hum in ascent. The woodsy smell of his cologne envelopes me with his strong arms.

"It's okay, you're safe with me here," he coos, placing a kiss on my forehead.

"That was scary," I mutter.

"I was scared too, y'know," he ghosts his nose on my temple, "I thought something was gonna happen to you. What kind of boyfriend am I if I can't protect you?"

My heart melts at his sincerity. I poke my hands out of the blanket and cup his face, staring into his eyes with a smile. "Well, I'm here now. Thank you for being there, Kiri."

He returns the smile and pecks my nose before crushing me in another hug. "Whoever tries to take you away from me should watch their back. I'd go to the ends of the world to find you."

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