Alfred was fairly sure Russia couldn't behave like a normal human being if his life depended on it. True to his word, the Russian did show up on his doorstep that Monday at five in the morning. He didn't even call to say what time he would actually arrive. He just showed up, at five, and hammered a fist against the front door until Alfred wearily rolled out of bed.

Captain America boxers and all, Alfred groggily stumbled down the stairs, because he knew the pounding wouldn't cease until he received Russia. He just wasn't sure if he would greet the other or punch him in the face just yet once he opened the door. Being a hero required about eight hours of sleep, two cups of coffee, and a bowl of Cap'n Crunch. Presently, he didn't have any of those things. Alfred was not a hero right now, just a very tired and disgruntled man. Opening the door, he fought the urge to land his fist right into that smiling face that welcomed him.

"Dobroye utro!" The cheerful voice called grating against his ears.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" Alfred asked, fingers curling around his doorframe to keep from lashing out at his guest.

"Da, and I have arrived as I have said."

"You never said you would show up at five." He couldn't keep the annoyance out of his voice.

"Ah, but you see, you never asked for the exact the time, just an open-ended when."

Alfred's lips twitched at that, but no retort came. It was too early in the morning to put effort into arguing. Blue eyes stared at the bright and smiling face for a moment. He couldn't slam the door on Russia's stupid mug, despite how much he wanted to; there was no going back on his word. That wouldn't be very heroic.

Alfred's gaze fell to the crate that was tucked securely under Russia's arm. The cage was solid plastic on all sides, save for the mesh door. He couldn't see the cat, but he could hear it. Clawed feet scrapped and clicked as it moved restlessly within its confinement and he could see gray fur whisk by the mesh opening as the animal circled. The caged beast, much like its owner, gave off foreboding waves but Alfred dismissed them, too tired to care.

"Whatever." He grumbled and moved away from the door, allowing Russia to enter.

They stood facing one another in the foyer. Only then did Alfred realize that he was standing in front of the other in nothing but his underwear. Awkward, but he tried to not let it faze him. It was Russia's fault that he'd shown up so early after all. Still, he crossed his arms over his torso, covering the slight softness of his lower abdomen, trying to hide it from view.

"So, you wanna let it out or something?" Alfred asked motioning toward the crate.

The other merely nodded. Bending down, Russia fiddled with the cage door, unlatching it. Right away, a gray head poked out and alert violet eyes took in their surroundings. Alfred's overactive imagination had convinced him that Russia's cat simply could not be normal. However, he saw no protruding fangs, black curving claws, blood thirsty eyes, or anything his mind had cooked up.

The feline took a few steps forward before sitting proudly between the two nations, watching them both with curious eyes. It was just a large gray cat with white fur trimmed around its neck and tail. The animal was a bit on the large side, but other than that it looked deceptively ordinary. Alfred squatted down to get a closer look.

"Offer your hand."

"Huh?" Alfred murmured, giving Russia a questioning look. Yet, he held out his hand toward the large cat before him.

After a session of skeptical sniffing, the feline almost looked as if it would allow him to pet it. The moment was fleeting however, and the cat soon lost interest in Alfred completely and padded away, moving toward its owner. Alfred couldn't help but frown. He was great with animals, yet the cat had rejected him in two seconds flat.

"Not the cuddliest thing is she." He muttered

"He." Russia corrected. "I'm sure he'll warm up to you in a few days."

"Yea, sure. What's the big guy's name?"

"Vanya."

Alfred stood up and gave the other a blank look.

"Seriously?"

"Da, it's a good name."

"Isn't that kinda similar to your name?"

"And your point is?"

"Well, isn't that, I don't know, kinda weird?"

"I don't think so." Russia said simply, glancing down at the cat that was making itself comfortable at his feet. "If you're so concerned about pet names, what is your animal's name?"

Alfred hesitated for a moment. "Al."

"I would say that is fairly similar to your name, is it not?" The sweet smile on Russia's lips grew.

"Maybe a little," Alfred shrugged, looking awkwardly off to the side for a moment. "Whatever, so how long am I keeping Vanya for?"

Russia paused and gave a soft hum as he thought. "I should think about two weeks, maybe a little more, I'm not exactly sure when my vacation will end."

"You're not sure?"

"Da."

"Your boss is just allowing you to be absent for two-ish weeks?" Alfred asked, rising a brow at Russia's uncertainty.

"Well, I'm going on vacation with one of them." Russia supplied. "Putin has decided to take another excursion into Siberia and he has asked me to come with him. I'm not yet sure what he has planned."

"Oh," He grunted, dismissing the subject now that he no longer cared. "So, how do I take care of this guy?" He asked nodding toward the cat at Russia's feet.

"Simply place food out for him in the evening, the rest he will deal with himself."

"Really?"

"He's a very self-sufficient cat."

"Sure." Alfred shrugged casting a skeptical glance at the feline, who simply stared back up at him.

Picking the empty cage off the floor, Russia placed it back underneath his arm.

"When I return, I will repay you for your services."

"'Kay."

"Unless you have any more questions, I will take my leave."

"Nope, I'm good." Get out.

With that Russia nodded and looked down at the cat before him. "Be good little one, see you soon." He bent down once more to give the feline an affectionate scratch behind the ears before heading toward the door.

For a brief moment Russia hovered in the doorway. "Do svidaniya, America."

"Yea, yea." Alfred waved limply. "Peace out."

As soon as the door closed Alfred could feel the eyes of the Russian cat gazing up at him inquiringly. It was creepy that those eyes were the same shade of violet as its owner's. Yawning, Alfred lazily mussed his hair with a hand.

"Make yourself at home, I guess." He said with a shrug and turned away to go up the stairs, having every intention of going back to sleep.

Blinking once the cat slunk away.

In the living room, sprawled across the seat of his favorite recliner, Al slept as if he were road kill. He lay on his back, paws splayed out in four different directions, a ridiculous but extremely comfortable position. His generous white belly rose and fell in time with his breathing. Calm and relaxed he slept without a care in the world.

Suddently, something brushed against is lower left paw. It was just a light tap, a tickle. It felt like a feather almost. Instinctively his paw curled and flexed, but he didn't wake. The sensation came again, a little more forceful this time. Al stirred a bit, kicking his hind leg lightly in the air, trying to make the feeling go away. Just as he was about to drift once more into the land of sleep the ticklish feeling came again for the third time. His ears twitched in irritation as he woke.

Drawing his hind legs toward his body, Al cracked one blue eye open and then another. He found himself looking up at the end of the chair. The arm of the recliner looked bigger than he remembered, fluffier too. Al blinked, adjusting his eyes. No, wait. That couldn't be a part of the chair, because it was looking back at him. His eyes widened.

Crouching on the arm of the recliner a big furry thing sat, observant violet eyes stared back at him.

'Hello.'

The word startled Al, who bolted upright, rolling and scrambling to get on his feet. Having never been the most graceful cat, his quick attempts landed him directly on the floor. He floundered on the ground for a second before righting himself. Once on all four paws he braced himself on the living room floor. Al held his ground and watched the monster watch him. It had to be a monster; Al couldn't tell where the creature ended and where it began.

The beast titled its head questioningly.

'You can't understand me can you?' The voice said disappointedly.

'I can understand you just fine.' Al spat, feeling his hackles start to rise along his back.

The creature didn't seem the least bit frightened.

'Oh good!' The beast cried cheerfully. 'Not all animals can you know, they have to be special.'

Al just glared up at the monster. 'What are you?'

A light sound escaped the creature. It was something like a hiss and a howl mixed together. It remained Al of his owner. People made a similar cry when they were happy. It was a strange thing really. The noise was called a laugh. The beast before him sounded like he was trying to mimic it. The monster was laughing and the noise was directed at him. Al's eyes narrowed at the realization.

'I'm a cat.' The creature hissed with laughter. 'Just like you.'

With that said the beast sat up and gracefully moved to sit on the seat of the recliner. Low and behold it was a cat. Its fur was the same grey color as the chair's upholstery. He hadn't been able to see the difference between the two until it moved.

'Oh.' Al murmured, feeling his fur flatten back into place a little. '…Why are you in my house?' He asked, not willing to trust the other feline so soon. The animal just gave off a strange vibe.

'My owner dropped me off.' The cat replied dismissively, as if the details didn't matter. 'We're going to be friends Al.'

Al's muzzle scrunched at that. 'How do you know my name?'

'Your owner told me.'

'He knows you're here?'

'Of course.'

There was a pause as sapphire and amethyst eyes stared at each other.

'I'm Vanya.'

'You're weird.'

'That's not a nice thing to say.'

'So?' Al asked, not liking how the other cat began to crouch once more.

'Because,' Vanya said, body starting to sway to build momentum. 'It's not nice to insult someone who's going to be your friend.' And with that the grey cat sprung at him.

Eyes, growing owlishly wide, Al tried to move out of the way, but the pads of his paws slipped uselessly on the hardwood floor. He managed to move forward a few inches at most, but it wasn't enough. Within seconds he was flattened by a large, fluffy body.