"It's so nice of you to visit me, Chortle! I was really surprised when you called me." The orange cat closed the door behind his younger brother. "I thought Chuckles would be with you- oh, but I suppose he's too busy, what with graduation coming up - sit wherever you want! Do you want me to get you anything to drink, or eat, or-"
Chortle interrupted him, rolling his eyes. "Christ, Tits, calm down. Are you like this with everyone that comes over?"
"You shouldn't say- don't call me that," the orange cat - Titters - mumbled, not sure which part to comment on. "I'm just happy to see you, that's all. I haven't seen you since Christmas."
"Yeah, well..." The dark red cat flopped down on the sofa nearby, staring at the floor. "C'mon, just sit down already."
Titters frowned slightly; Chortle had only just walked through the door and he was already telling him what to do. I'm sure he doesn't mean to be... like that. He said he wanted to come over as soon as possible, before. Perhaps he's just... stressed.
"Are you sure you don't want anyt-"
"For fuck's sake, Titters, no." Chortle's tail was swishing back and forth, and he just kept staring at the floor. Something was definitely wrong; Titters hadn't seen him get this worked up since they were children.
"A-alright. And don't swear," Titters chided, walking over to sit next to his brother.
"Whatever, Mum."
He chose to ignore that one. "What's the matter, Chortle? You-"
"I knocked up Keti."
Titters stared at him, eyes wide, his mouth dropping open even though he had no idea what to say. His mind had gone completely blank. For a minute, both were silent, before he finally managed to splutter, "You- you-"
"I got her pregnant."
"B-but- you- you're just- how?" he eventually managed to say.
Chortle shot him a look before speaking, his voice thick with sarcasm. "Well, ya see, Doctor Foley, I-"
"Never mind," Titters said quickly; he knew exactly how Chortle would respond to such a question. "What I mean is - how could you let this happen? You're too young to-"
"I'm 21, Titters, I'm not a kid," Chortle snapped, irritated. "And I didn't do it on purpose. I fucked up." Titters was so flustered, he barely even registered the swear. "And now I..." He paused, suddenly looking... scared? "I don't know what to do."
"W-well," Titters started, trying to get his thoughts in order. Chortle had come to him for advice, he was depending on him. He had to pull himself together. He'd come to him for help. "When- um- when did you find out about this?"
"Two days ago."
"Alright.. have you told anyone else?"
Chortle rolled his eyes again. "Of course not. You know what Mum and Dad'd say. And Chuck'd just go crying to them about it. Anyway, I don't even know if she's going to keep it-"
"Of course she's going to keep it!" Titters blurted out, shocked. Chortle just stared at him, an odd look on his face. "...S-sorry," he muttered, embarrassed over his outburst. "W-what else did she say?"
Chortle looked at the floor again. "Not much... she was crying a lot." He bit his lip, looking uncomfortable. "I.. she didn't even say what she wanted to do. She said she was scared..." He looked up at Titters, his eyes wide. "Titters, what the fuck am I going to do? I don't know shit about kids. And.. and our parents are going to kill me when they find out."
"Look, just- just tell them calmly, I'm sure they'll.. A-after all, like you said, you're an adult, so..." He trailed off awkwardly. He really had no idea how their parents would react, but he couldn't honestly say he thought they'd be happy about it. "...Um... You know you can always talk to me about anything," he started again.
"Yeah, yeah..." Chortle mumbled. "I guess I'll have to see what Keti wants to do first." He sighed. "So... what's going on with you?"
Titters really didn't want to leave their conversation there, but he decided to drop it for the moment. I suppose there isn't really anything else to say about it right now, anyway. "O-oh.. well, not much. Or, well, not much you'd be interested in, I guess. I've just been studying, and..." Titters broke off at the look on Chortle's face; he was smirking. "W-what?"
"Do you ever do anything else?"
"W-well, I-"
"You got a girlfriend yet?" he continued, his smirk widening.
"C-Chortle, honestly." Titters blushed, looking away. Why does he always have to be like this? How can he just change so suddenly? Just seconds ago, he'd been upset, but now he was back to his usual self - much to Titters' displeasure. He loved his brother, but he could do without his constant teasing. "L-look, enough about me. How is everyone? Is Chuckles doing okay with his studies-"
"Yeah, yeah, enough about school, geez. Yeah, he's fine. Haha, hey, did he tell you about his girlfriend?" Chortle said, leaning forward, grinning. Titters' eyes widened.
"His-"
"Well, okay, he says she isn't, but he's had this girl hanging around him for months now, asking him to tutor her. She's all over him, even though he said she's got a girlfriend already."
"A- a girl-"
"Yeah, I guess she's one of those chicks that swings both ways or whatever. She's so hot, though! I don't get why he hasn't tried to tap that yet." He leaned back, relaxing more. "Maybe he really is-"
"Don't," Titters interrupted, suddenly tense; he knew exactly what Chortle was about to say, and it worried him. He didn't want that coming up again.
"I'm just saying," Chortle continued, as if there hadn't been an interruption. "If it was me, I'd give her some real tutoring, y'know what I'm saying?"
"Chortle, how on earth do you still have a girlfriend?" Chortle just laughed in response. "Ugh... I hope you don't talk to this other girl like that." I know he probably does, but...
"Just cause you've never had a girlfriend..."
"I don't want one. N-not that there's anything wrong with girls, of course," he added hastily, not wanting to give the wrong impression. "It's just - I'm so busy right now, it wouldn't be fair to date anyone. You'd understand that if you..." He broke off, realizing something. "...Chortle, what are you going to do? If... if Keti does go through with this. You'd help her out, right?"
Chortle stared at him, looking offended. "Of course I would! I'm not just gonna fuck off or whatever. I mean, yeah, I didn't want this to happen, but..." He trailed off, looking uncertain again.
"W-well, that's good. But I meant - what I was trying to say was, you should probably get a job, so you can support her."
"Ugh, you sound like Dad. He keeps whining at me about that." He paused. "...Well, not the last bit, just.. y'know. He keeps saying I should get a job."
"Yes, well, you should. You've got someone else to think about, now." The two sat there in awkward silence for a minute, neither one knowing what to say after that. Eventually, Titters spoke up again, figuring that one of them had to say something. "It's... it's going to be okay, Chortle, alright? You'll figure something out, or, both of you will, I mean-"
"Thanks, Titters," Chortle said quietly. For once, he sounded completely sincere.
"...You're welcome," he said, surprised. "L-like I said before, you can talk to me about anything, no matter what."
"Yeah..." Chortle paused, then grinned again, "Y'know, I bet Chuck's girlfriend'd bang you if you asked her nicely - maybe she's into nerds-"
Titters spluttered, his face turning red. "Stop it- that's incredibly inappropriate, I- God, why do I bother?" he said eventually, as Chortle fell backwards, laughing at him.