Soft kitty. Fluffy kitty. Italy's thoughts repeated as his fingers scratched the creature's chin. It purred in satisfaction. Italy loved nice kitties.
"Italy, are you even listening?" The irritated tone seemed to make the voice even more Germanic.
"Si, si," Italy said, eyes clearly on whatever was under the table. "Aren't you such a good girl? Such a pretty girl."
"What are you even looking at?"
Germany stepped away from the blackboard where he was giving his presentation. He stooped to see what was under the table and was met with a delicate, "Mow."
"A cat? How did you get a cat in the building?"
At that, Japan also bent to look under the table, finding a slender feline rubbing up against Italy's legs.
"She was outside." Italy grinned even wider as he reached to pick it up. "No one came to get her after lunch, so I took her with me."
Germany groaned, running a hand through his hair. "You can't bring stray animals into meetings."
"Ah, why not? She is such a good kitty. All she wants is chin scratches and the can of anchovies I had in my pocket."
"Why do you have anch—." Germany stopped himself, shaking the question from his mind knowing that the answer would only confuse him further. "It does not matter what it wants. You cannot take in wild animals."
"Actually, Mr. Germany," Japan spoke up, "I doubt the cat is feral. It is too accustomed to our presence. Perhaps it belongs to one of the other countries that are meeting in this building."
Germany held his chiseled chin in his hand as he thought. "You may be right. In which case, we must return it to its proper owner immediately."
"Aw, does that mean I have to give her back?"
"Of course, you do. You have enough pets already."
"I do not. Those turtles are Fratello's."
"Where did you say you found it Italy-chan?" Japan interjected, saving them the trouble of arguing further.
"On the steps of the entrance hall. She was meowing and trying to get inside."
Japan hummed thoughtfully. "Mr. Greece likes to nap outside. Perhaps it is his?"
"Good idea, Japan." Germany nodded. "We will check there first."
Cat in his arms, Italy and the other Axis Nations returned to the entrance hall, having to only walk to the nearest shady tree to find Greece sleeping underneath it.
"Ciao, Greece!" Italy called, running the rest of the way.
A set of lazy lids blinked open.
"Hello," Greece greeted, sitting up.
"Kon'nichiwa, Mr. Greece. Sorry to disturb you, but we believe Italy may have taken one of your cats."
"My... cat?" Greece turned to the Italian coddling the kitten. He squinted. "She's... not one of mine."
"Nein?"
"No..." He stroked its cheek. "Her fur is... too thick to be from my place. Could be... Iceland's."
"Iceland?" they asked, not expecting the cold teen to care much for the creatures.
Greece nodded, eyes drooping. "He has lots of cats."
Germany huffed. "Alright. We will ask Iceland."
The northerner in question was currently in the library. It had been Sweden's idea to replace all the bookcases there with Ikea shelves. The Swede was in charge of assembly. Finland was assisting, while Estonia, still trying to prove his value to the Nordics, was searching up manuals and tutorials on the computers. However, in all his national pride, Sweden never looked at the manual, insisting he knew it by heart. The brothers were supposed to be handing them parts and tools when asked, but they were a bit preoccupied with more important matters.
"Why would I eat your mackerel? I have my own."
"Because you do every time you come over." Norway glared, grabbing a random screwdriver and passing it to Finland.
"It was probably Denmark."
"You can't blame everything on Den."
"I can, and I do."
"Blame what on me?" Denmark strode over, a large takeout bag in tow.
"You ate Norway's mackerel."
"Oh, sorry, Nor. I'll get you another," Denmark apologized, reaching into the bag.
"You didn't do anything, you oaf," Norway groaned, taking the Styrofoam container handed to him, "Iceland ate all the mackerel in my fridge."
"Don't you usually do that at Ice's place though?" Denmark raised an eyebrow at him before handing Iceland a similar container.
Iceland stuck his tongue out at Norway as Denmark left to pass out the rest of the food.
As he pulled the plastic lid off his to-go soup, Norway spotted something fuzzy slink through the doorway. "What was that?"
"Huh?" Iceland looked round as the animal meowed, trotting up to them. "What is a cat doing in the library?"
He reached a hand out to the feline as an Italian zipped past the open doors with shouts of, "Kitty! Kitty! Where did you go?"
Shortly, two other Axis Nations were crossing in front of the entryway, one of them stopping.
"It is over here, Mr. Italy, and it has found Mr. Iceland," Japan called down the hall.
Iceland carefully picked the kitten up as Japan and Germany entered the library, Italy rushing past them.
"There you are. Naughty kitty. You scared me!"
"She yours?" Iceland asked, and Germany's shoulders sunk.
"Nein. We were hoping she was yours."
Iceland shook his head, setting the cat on a desk. It nuzzled into Iceland's palm as he stroked its head. "She looks like one of mine, but I've never seen her before."
"Hej, neighbor!" Denmark shouted to Germany as he left Estonia with a chicken sandwich that should have been tuna salad.
"Ja, hallo," Germany sighed as Denmark joined them.
"Hey, cool cat!" Denmark laughed, running a hand over its head and all the way down its tail.
The cat curled up from the rough touch. It turned away and jumped off the table, taking off at a sprint across the library.
"Skyde! Sorry. I'll get him." Denmark ran after it, but the cat had no intention of coming quietly. As Denmark dove for it, it ducked under a bookshelf, just slipping from his grasp.
"There she is!" Italy called, spotting the cat creep out of the other side of the shelves.
"I've got her!" Estonia made the grab, but it leaped over his shoulder. Finland tried to catch it only for it to make a hard right, darting for another set of bookcases. Germany moved to block its escape, but that scared it right back out the other side and straight into Italy who was crouching to grab it. Italy fell with a thud as the feline clambered over him.
They all chased after it as it bolted toward Sweden. Blindly following, Denmark barreled into him as the cat darted between his legs, sending them both tumbling to the floor. This meant that Finland and Norway had to step in before they could argue over who's fault that was. While everyone scrambled to prevent another Scandinavian war, Iceland opened the container of fish stew that Denmark had brought.
"I would ask England." They paused in their panicking to look over at Iceland who was petting the cat as it lapped up the fishy broth. "I know he's had cats and this one's crazy enough to be his."
