No.

Absolutely not.

Why.

Why the ever loving—

"You're getting that look on your face again." Veneziano edged away from his brother; there was a look of faint panic on the younger brother's face. "You're scary like Germany."

Romano ignored the comparison. "Look on my face? I don't have a look on my face!" He pointed to the little box that his younger clutched in his arms. There was a growing sense of alarm on Veneziano's face, but Romano couldn't help but feel vindicated. Good, the little shit had it coming. "But you definitely have something that shouldn't be here."

"Before you say anything—"

"And before you lie, I already know that you have some kind of flea ridden animal in there."

"Don't interrupt me!"

Although Romano was pissed off and tired, he waved a hand so that his brother would continue.

"Signora Valentino's mama cat gave birth and now she has a litter of five kittens to take care of!"

The box that Veneziano held in his arms began to make mewling sounds, as if it were confirming that, yes, his brother was a gigantic idiot with too big a heart.

"And?"

"Well, I kind of told her…that, well…we do have enough space for a cat…or two…"

Romano's eyes bulged out of their sockets.

"You can't have possibly—"

Veneziano proved his fears true as he pulled out two small kittens out of the box. They were tiny, mewling things that pawed at the air and began crying at the new environment. A part of Romano felt bad, such tiny things must have been overwhelmed, but at the same time…

"The little boy down the street likes cats. He's a nice boy that one."

"But I promised Signora Valentino," Veneziano wailed pathetically. "At least try to help me take care of them just for today! Please?"

"No."

"Not even if I do your share of the paperwork for the of the week?"

Romano stilled, his thoughts were going a mile a minute.

If his brother did his work, then he could have more time doing things he actually enjoyed…

But that meant, he would have to spend more time with the cat…but freedom of paperwork… The very idea had him nodding slowly as he trudged closer to the box and peered inside. One of the stupid things looked up at him and just simply stared, as if challenging him to say something.

Well.

Fine then.

"I'll take the one that looks like an asshole."