Vodka Coke

Chapter 1: Vodka Coke

This story is going to touch on some very sensitive topics such as; poor mental health, psychotic episodes, depression, alcohol abuse and death. I'll be sure to mention things in the notes should they be especially prominent in the chapter.

With that being said, I hope you enjoy the story. 

Ever since Izuku's dad left when he was four, his mother had been struggling. That's not to say that Inko didn't love and care for her son to the best of her abilities. When the sun was up, Izuku and Inko were fine. They laughed together. They cried together. They loved each other as a mother and son did. But, when the sun set and the city was cast into the shadow under the night sky, Inko drowned her problems with alcohol.

She tried to keep it a secret from Izuku, but he found out when he was eight. He didn't say anything. Too scared that confronting his mother would only result in endless tears and sobbed apologies. He was scared that Inko would start making promises that she wouldn't be able to keep.

Every night, without fail, Inko would consume copious amounts of alcohol to rid herself of the grief of her husband leaving her for another woman. She wanted to forget Hisashi's toxic and scathing words that had persisted throughout their marriage. She tried to forget everything so she could keep living whilst the sun was shining.

This pattern of soberness in the daylight and drunken depression in the twilight continued for nine years.

"Oi, Deku," Bakugo called over to his childhood friend. As was usual, a scowl settled on his face, though there was a gleam of worry that sparkled in his eyes.

"Oh, hey, Kacchan, what's up?" Izuku smiled serenely at his friend from his perch in his desk chair. The school day had just come to an end and Izuku was eager to get home.

"The Hag wanted me to ask if you and your mum are doing ok," Katsuki started, "She said that she noticed that your mum is looking more tired and she's lost weight."

"Oh... Tell  Auntie Mitsuki not to worry. Mum lost her job recently, she's just been a bit upset, that's all, she'll be back on her feet in no time." Izuku tried his hardest to conceal the tremble in his voice, but it was a futile effort.

He didn't want to reveal to Katsuki that ever since losing her job, his mother's depression had spiralled to new depths. He didn't want to reveal that his mother had all but locked herself in her room, drinking at all times of the day now, as opposed to only at night, when she thought Izuku couldn't see. He dreaded admitting that she was no longer looking after him as she was supposed to. How he was the one cooking their meals and cleaning the house to the best of his abilities and worrying over his mother's well-being, all at the age of thirteen. He was scared that something would happen if he told anyone.

Izuku didn't mind looking after his mum, he was sure that it was only for a little while longer, anyway. Inko was always telling him how much she loved him and that she would get a new job soon. They'd scoured job seeker sites together, he knew that she wanted to get better, and he trusted her to try. No, Izuku was sure that this wasn't a permanent fixture, he just had to look after them for a little longer.

"If you say so," Katsuki sounded sceptical, "You know you can talk to me or my parents if anything is wrong, yeah?"

"Of course, Kacchan!"

The two friends parted ways, one internally worried for the well-being of his friend and the other fretting over what simple meal he'd be making for dinner and whether his mother had been well enough to go to the shop that day.

"Mum, I'm home!" Izuku called into the dark house. They tended not to turn any of the electronics on unless necessary, they needed to save as much money as they could so that they could pay rent.