Here's a nekotalia story for all you! After reading, "Neko to Human" I've had this craving for stories where one nation was the human and the other was a cat (ie Germany master and Italy pet), but there's not a whole lot of fanfics like that-or I can't just find them-so I decided to write my own! Each story will have a different nation and a different cat, and how the two live together.
Now for this story Tino is the human while Sweden is the cat, but that doesn't mean that Sweden the human exists. Think of each story as a parallel universe: If a nation is a cat, then that means that in the story they don't exist as a human, but in another story they'll exist as a human, but not a cat. I may change this later on, but for now this is the rule.
I used human names for the masters and country names for the cats so people don't get confused.
Tino shifted uncomfortably. He sat at his kitchen table reading his morning newspaper in one hand and in another he had his cup of coffee. In front of him was his breakfast. Beside him sitting on the floor was his new cat, Sweden. The cat was staring up at him. His green eyes were narrowed into what looked like a glare, but Tino wasn't sure why. Had he done something to upset the cat? He didn't think so.
He had gotten the cat just last night in the dead of night after his neighbor, Mathias, pounded on his door and yelled at him to wake up. When Tino had opened the door he saw Mathias standing there soaking wet while holding an equally wet cat. The cat was glaring, but Tino wasn't sure if he was glaring at him or just the fact that he was wet.
Tino had looked up to see if it was raining, but the sky was clear. "I found this guy being washed down a river, so I jumped in and saved him like the hero I am!" Mathias had said, as if reading Tino's mind. "I don't know where he came from, but he doesn't have a collar or anything, so I figured he's just some stray." The cat turned his head up to Mathias. Tino wasn't sure how, but it seemed the cat was glaring even harder. He guessed the cat didn't like being called 'some stray.'
Tino looked up back at Mathis when the cat was shoved into his arms. "So, there you go! K bye!" He started to run off but Tino quickly grabbed the sleeve of his long soaked jacket.
"Wait!" He called. "Why don't you keep the cat? I mean you just saved him and everything."
"Tino, you know I can't. Nor would get mad!"
Nor was a nickname for Mathias's cat, Norway. The cat always wore a deadpan expression around others, and it was true he didn't get along with other cats. Expect for the white kitten he had brought home one day from who knows where. The kitten-who Mathias had named Iceland-was the only cat Norway seemed to tolerate.
"But I don't have any cat food, or toys, or a bed, or anything!"
"I'll bring that stuff in the morning then. Look, he already likes you!"
Tino looked down at the cat. The cat had his head against Tino's chest and was purring. Tino couldn't help but say, "aww."
Mathias took this as a sign that Tino would keep the cat and quickly ran away before Tino could say anything else. Tino took the cat into his home when he realized that Mathias had ran off. He dried the cat off with a towel then, finding a ribbon the colors of a Swedish flag, tied it around the cat's neck. He often delivered gifts to different countries, so he tied a ribbon of the country the child belong to. This not only helped organize all the gifts, but it was a nice treat for the kids (at least he thought it was.
"Sweden is your name." He said, knowing the cat would be with him a long, long time.
And that's how he ended up with a cat glaring at him that peaceful morning. "Do you not like the name?" He asked the cat.
Sweden just blinked.
"Are you hungry? Tired? Is something wrong?"
Sweden blinked again.
Tino sighed. "What am I doing talking to a cat? I must be going crazy." He jumped when he felt something touch his leg. Luckily he hadn't jumped high enough for his coffee to spill out of the cup and all over him. He looked down and saw Sweden rubbing against his leg. He heard a light rumble coming from the cat.
Was Sweden purring? Did that mean he wasn't mad at him?
Tino took a piece of his bacon off of his plate and held it in front of Sweden. The cat halted in his rubbing to stare at the bacon. He sniffed at it before taking it in his mouth. He sat down at Tino's feet and quietly ate the bacon. Tino couldn't help but giggle. He patted the cat on his head before returning to his paper.
Tino sat on his couch in the living room quietly reading a book. He had finished all of his usual chores, so he decided to sit back and relax. Sweden had followed him while he was doing the chores, never once leaving. It was a bit unnerving since he kept glaring him, but he had never gotten under his feet while he walked, or disrupted him while he was working.
While Tino was working Sweden would sit down behind him and watch him. He never made a sound, which made him think he was gone until he turned around and jumped. He was sure the cat would give him a heart attack one day. After he had finished his chores and sat down with his book Sweden had disappeared, giving Tino sometime to himself. He wondered if Sweden had sensed that he wanted some time alone and didn't want to disturb him, or if he wanted to play with the toys Mathias had brought.
Mathias had showed up with all the cat necessities after breakfast like he had promised. He brought over a cat bed, cat dish, some food, toys, and some brushes in case Tino wanted to brush Sweden (which he suggested he do unless he wanted cat hairs everywhere). He had brought it in a large cardboard box, which was currently in Tino's garage. He and Mathias had taken everything out and placed them throughout the house. Mathias showed Sweden the toys and tried to get him to play, but he just sat there staring at him.
"This cat is weird." He had said. "All he's doing is just sitting there and glaring."
"He's been doing all ever since he came here." Tino told him. "I think he's mad, but I can't figure out why."
Mathias shrugged. "Maybe he smells Nor on the toys. Maybe that's why he doesn't want to play."
"You gave away Norway's toys? Wouldn't he be mad?"
Mathias laughed. "No way! This is all of Nor's toys from when he was a kitten. He doesn't even play with them anymore. I even showed Nor the toys I was giving away, and he didn't care."
"I seeā¦" Tino wondered if the cat really didn't care, or if Mathias just thought he didn't because of his deadpan expression. He never could understand what the cat was thinking, but somehow Mathias did. Maybe it's because he raised him since he was a kitten?
"Just give him a week and he'll settle in. Heck, I bet he'll be running and playing once he gets used to the house."
"Yeah, sure." Tino chuckled. 'I doubt that. I doubt Sweden will ever be playful, no matter how long he stays here.'
Tino was brought out of his flashback when something heavy landed on his lap. He looked over his book and saw Sweden glaring at him. "Oh, hi Sweden." He greeted, rubbing the cat's head.
Sweden rubbed his head against Tino's hand, wanting more of the attention. When Tino pulled his hand away, Sweden frowned, but the blond man couldn't tell a difference in his appearance. "Why do you always look so mad?" He asked. "I can't tell if you really are and giving me mixed messages, or if you just look that way. Give me a sign."
Sweden jumped off Tino's lap and ran off. Tino sighed and slumped down in the couch. "I guess he hates me." He grabbed his book and opened it. "Maybe I can convince Mathias to keep him. Maybe Norway has grown to like other cats after taking care of Iceland. Maybe-" He felt something hit his feet. He closed his book and looked down.
It was one of Sweden's new toy: A thin pole with a mouse hanging off on one side, a small string connecting it. He looked at Sweden to see him looking at him. His tail was swishing back and forth, and did Tino see a bit of excitement in his eyes? Slowly he picked the toy up. He bounce the mouse once and Sweden was all over the toy. Whenever he tried to grab it with his paws, Tino would move his hand up to keep the mouse away.
Tino chuckled. In that moment Sweden went from the silent, glaring cat to the playful glaring cat. 'I guess this whole time he was happy with me. Maybe it won't be so bad to keep a cat.' "Come on, Sweden. You can do it!" He cheered.
Sweden jumped higher and higher, just barely missing the toy. Tino laughed as he watched and continued to move it out of reach. They continued well into the night, both enjoying this time together more than anything.
