Leo's 16
Don's 16
Mikey's 15
Raph's 14

Raph and Don sat at the kitchen table finishing the last of their supper. "So, I was thinkin' maybe we could go celebrate our two-month anniversary," Raph said, looking at Don lasciviously. "I'm ready ta get ta the next step, Don. I'm ready ta be with ya body and soul. For ya ta mark me and me ta mark ya."
"I see," Don said, and sipped his water. "Raph, do you love me?"
"Of course I do. Yer my everythin'."
"That's where we differ. I don't love you, Raph. Not more than a brother. It's been wonderful getting to know a different side of you, the soft side that you very rarely show to anyone, but we're not compatible."
"We are, Don. Ya said we were. I don't understand," Raph said, blinking his green eyes in confusion.
"I was wrong. Raph, I'm attracted to you. You're gorgeous, but if we did anything, it'd be purely physical. I can't give you the love you want."
"I don't mind physical."
"I do. See, I want my first time to be with someone I love, Raph, and you deserve the same."
"And where am I gonna find someone who wants me?" Raph yelled. "I'm a fuckin' mutant turtle. Yer a bastard, Don. Ya tell me ya love me, make me believe that and now yer tellin' me ya don't feel the same. What happened?"
"Mikey, if you have to know. I'm just nuts about him and he likes me. I'm sorry you have to find out this way."
"Ya cheated on me," Raph exploded, balling his fists and glaring at Don.
"We kissed and did nothing else, but we want to be together. I'm sorry, Raph. I still love you as a brother, but that's it. I hope you find the love you deserve."
"FUCKIN' ASSHOLE. I HATE YA FOR LEADIN' ME ON. I SHOWED SIDES OF ME THAT I NEVER SHOW TA ANYONE ELSE AND I TOLD YA THINGS NO ONE ELSE KNOWS."

"What the hell's going on here?" Leo asked, entering the room.
"Ask that fuckin' creep," Raph snarled, and stormed out of the room.
"What did you do, Don?"

"I broke his heart, Leo," Don said. "I didn't mean to. Mikey and I just happened."
"Poor Raph," Leo said, scowling at Don and leaving the room in search of Raph.

Leo found Raph leaning against a wall not far from the lair. His knuckles were bloody and there was a huge hole in the wall, which he'd obviously taken his frustrations out on. Raph's head was bowed. "Hey, you okay, Raph?" Leo asked, approaching him.
"Go away, Leo."
"Want to talk?"
"No, I wanna be alone."
"I'm here for you," Leo said, pulling Raph into a hug. The unexpected embrace shocked Raph. Leo wasn't a very touchy feely person, but it was comforting, so Raph didn't shift away. He leaned into the embrace and buried his head against Leo's plastron. Leo was two inches taller at five foot two, but Raph was stockier and stronger. "I can't believe he dumped me and kissed Mikey," Raph choked out. "I told him things no one else knows. I trusted him, Leo. How could I have been so stupid?"
"You're not stupid, Raphie. You're wonderful, smart, caring, strong, handsome…."
"Ya think I'm handsome?" Raph asked, pulling away and lifting his tear-stained face to look at Leo.
"Yes," Leo said, cupping his cheek. "You're very special and it's Don's loss. Honestly."
"Leo, ya don't have ta lie ta make me feel better."
"I'm not, Raphie. I've always thought you were incredible even when we fought and fight. And, boy, do we argue. You're everything I'd want in a mate. Truthfully, I've liked you for a long, long time."
"Really?" Raph asked in astonishment.
Leo nodded. "Since I was ten, but I always thought your affections lay with Don."
"Yer wrong, Leo. My feelings for ya have always been strong, especially when I turned thirteen and my hormones started ragin'. I always hoped ya'd make the first move and I got tired of waitin', so when Don asked me out, I said yes. I fell in love with him. No doubt about it, but I wish I'd waited longer and hadn't dated him now that I know how ya feel 'bout me. It must have tore ya up seein' me with Don."
"Things always happen for a reason, Raphie, and it did, but all I've ever wanted is for you to be happy.
Raph smiled. "Funny how life is sometimes. Ya date someone, break up and then end up with the one ya've always wanted."
Leo took Raph's hand and said, "I like you, but I don't want you to be with me on the rebound."
"I wouldn't do that ta ya, Leo. I respect ya too much. We'll take things slowly, but promise me that if yer feelings change, ya will tell me and not lead me on?"
"I promise."
"I'll do the same. So, we're together, Leo?"
"Yes, Raphie, and I'll do my best not to hurt you."
"Same here," Raph said, leaning in for a kiss.

"Excuse me," a voice said suddenly. Leo and Raph turned and saw a dark haired and dark eyed merman in the water below them. "My name's Barracuda and I need your help."
"Our help?" Raph asked. "With what and how the heck did ya get here? Don't ya belong in the ocean?"
"Yes, but I've been absent from my realm for some time exploring the ocean. I got lost and ended up here."

"How can we help you, Barracuda?" Leo asked. "I'm Leo and this is Raphael."
"I know how to get home now, but there's a mad man named Shredder attacking our realm and we need help getting rid of him."

"And ya just happened ta find us, Barracuda?" Raph said, narrowing his eyes. "How do we know tin can didn't tell ya 'bout us and yer gonna lead us into his hands if we help ya?"
"Why would I do that? I don't know this tin can and finding you was merely luck. I've asked others to assist me and they refused. Seems no one trusts a merman."

"I know how you feel," Leo said. "We're mutant turtles and people don't trust us either. We'll get our brothers and come with you, Barracuda."
"No. You have to come immediately. There's no time to waste."
"But…."
"Now," Barracuda said, diving into the water.

"I don't like this, Leo," Raph said. "I don't like this at all. As much as I dislike Mikey and Don right now, we need them."
"We can take Shredder on our own, Raph, and have done before. It'll be a cinch. We'll be home before dawn."
"I hope yer right, Leo. I get a really bad feelin' bout this and somethin' tells me Barracuda can't be trusted."

Leo dove into the water and Raph followed suit.

A couple of hours later, the exhausted turtles and Barracuda ended up in the ocean. "Not long now, guys," Barracuda said, emitting a piercing scream that made Raph and Leo cover their ear slits.

"What the heck is that noise, Leo?" Raph asked, grimacing.
"Barracuda, what's going on?" Leo asked.

Suddenly, they were all surrounded by eight giant squid and several sharks. One of the squid immediately latched onto Raph and Leo and picked them up. "Hey, fucker," Raph snarled, withdrawing his sai. "Put me fuckin' down! Barracuda, ya have some explainin' ta do!" Raph tried to cut the squid, but another squid grabbed his and Leo's weapons from them.
"Oh, that's one of my pets. I suggest you keep still and shut up. He doesn't like shouting."

"Let us go!" Leo yelled.
"I can't do that," Barracuda said. "You're mine. Mine. See, I kind of lied. It'll all be explained later," he said, firing tranquilizer darts at Leo and Raph.

"Ya bastard," Raph hissed, ripping the dart out of his arm. "I' knew ya was…" Before Raph could finish his sentence, he'd passed out, still gripped securely by the squid.
"I'm sorry, Raph," Leo said, feeling the effects of the dart, closing his eyes and passing out. I should have trusted you.

Barracuda studied his bounty and said, "Come on, pets. We need to go home. I can't wait to try out my new pets. The turtles are exquisite, especially the emerald skinned one. He needs an attitude adjustment, though, and he'll get it!" The villains swam as fast as they could to Barracuda's palace.