Hamato Leonardo's sapphire eyes shone excitedly, as he boarded the cruise ship for a twelve day tour of the Caribbean. He'd scrimped and saved, surviving mostly on canned foods and processed goods for the better half of a year, but it was all worth it, he thought, thinking of his trip. Twelve whole days to myself. Seeing new places and having new experiences. I haven't been this excited since I got my degree in Botany and best of all no Usagi. That rabbit just won't get the memo that I'm not interested. Sigh. I'm going to have be more forceful about it. Leo went into his cabin, set his bags on the floor and his jaw dropped not only at the opulence of it, but at the giant and muscular emerald skinned and golden eyed turtle that was sitting on one of the double beds, his case and its contents spread on the bed. "Cat got yer tongue?" the turtle drawled.

"Um. I know I said I was open to sharing a room, "Leo said, composing himself. "But I wasn't expecting another mutant turtle. Thought I was the only one."

"Disappointed, because I can tell ya I ain't," the turtle said huskily, his amber eyes roving down Leo's toned and athletic figure. "Not at all."

Visibly flustered by the scrutiny, Leo extended a hand and said, "I'm Hamato, Leonardo."

"Raphael Keating, but ya can call me, Raph, Leo."

"I'm Leonardo."

"I prefer Leo," Raphael said, holding onto Leo's hand longer than was necessary and making him blush. Raphael grinned at his bashfulness and said, "Yer shy. I like that a lot. Opposites attract, ya know."

Leo wrenched his hand away and said, "I'm not looking for a relationship."

"And what are ya lookin' for? Fun with no strings attached?"

"I'm just here to have a vacation. Not that it's any of your business," Leo snapped, as he picked up his cases and placed them onto his bed.

Raphael chuckled and said, "Yer a virgin, Leo?"

"Why do you care, Raphael?" Leo asked, bristling at the blunt question.

"I was just makin' conversation."

"Look, we're roommates, Raphael, and that's all it'll ever be. You're not my type."

"How do ya know?"

"I can tell and my gut's usually right."

"Yer so uptight, Leo. I can make ya relax."

"No. You're probably the kind of guy, who only ever looks for fun."

Raphael snorted and said, "I was involved with Casey for two years. Nearly married, but he went behind my back with a fuckin' rabbit, so I moved on. That was two years ago. Ain't been with anyone else since. He was my first and my last. Still think I'm a player?"

"I didn't know. Sorry. This rabbit have a name?"

"That didn't cross my mind when I caught them in my bed the mornin' after my seventeenth birthday. Just threw them out."

Leo winced and said, "I'm sorry you went through that."

"The past. I'm fine. Of course, Casey begged me ta take him back, but I refused. I deserve better than a cheater and this, after I helped fund some of his college tuition. I worked at a DVD rental place. Had been savin' for somethin'special, but my boyfriend needed help, so I gave him a loan, right? The things we do for love. The scuzz bucket still hasn't paid me back the two grand. Doubt I'll ever get it. Anyway, sorry. I've been talkin' yer ear off."

"You needed to talk. It's all right. And I hope you haven't given up on love, Raphael. The right guy's out there."

"Yeah, he is," Raphael said, staring meaningfully at Leo and making his cheeks burn. "Ya look so cute when ya blush, Leo."

Leo ducked his head and focussed on unpacking his clothes and putting them away. "I'm twenty. I had a boyfriend named Don, but he went on an exchange trip to Budapest and met a guy named Mikey, who ticked all the boxes: fun, easygoing, adventurous. All the things I'm not. That's what Don said anyway. That was three years ago and they're married now."

"Then I was right. Ya need ta loosen up," Raphael said, and smiled, making Leo's heart flutter. It was unnerving to the sapphire eyed turtle that all his composure vanished with just one look from Raphael. But damn, he had to admit that Raphael was unbelievably gorgeous and if he had to be honest, he did want to know him, but he knew it just wouldn't work out. Raphael was brash, loud, uncouth, and he was quiet, withdrawn, an introvert. Opposites. Destined to fail.

"I said no, Raphael."

"Come on. I will show ya a good time. Help ya ta relax. And," Raphael said, with a twinkle in his eyes. "At the end of the trip, ya will be fond of me. I tend ta grow on people. Ask April, my cousin, when ya meet her. She always said that once people get ta know me they can't get enough. I'm like chocolate. One can never have too much of that."

"I don't care for sweet things."

"Oh, really?" Raphael said, in a seductive, lower tone. "Chocolate is fun, especially when drizzled on yer lover's body and ya lick it off. Just imagine what we could do."

Leo's shell felt extremely tight, as he imagined him and Raphael tangled in bed, the emerald skinned turtle licking his plastron. "So, what work do you do, Raphael?" he asked, changing the subject and willing his erection to go away.

"Nice change of subject, Leo!" Raphael said, and chuckled. "I'm a cop."

"How the hell can you afford a cruise on your pay?"

"Now who's the nosy one?" Raphael said, making Leo flush. "My parents died when I was young and last year my grandparents died, leavin' me a tidy sum. I decided ta splurge and go on a vacation. Been worth it. I've met my future mate."

Leo spluttered and said, "You just won't get the memo!"

"Nah, Leo. It's ya, who won't get it. I like ya, think yer hot and I wanna get ta know ya. Just makin' that known. Nothin' worse than mixed signals. We'd be good together."

Leo finished packing his things away and said, "I'm going to see what things there are to do."

"Neat. Want me ta join ya?"

"No. No. No. Stay away from me, Raphael. You….."

"I what? What do I do, Fearless?" Raphael asked, staring at him intently.

"You're annoying me and making me feel things I haven't wanted to feel in a long time."

"Ah. That's good, right?"

"No! I bottled up my feelings when Don left me and I convinced myself I didn't want anyone else. That I could be okay being alone for the rest of my life, but you're making me second guess myself."

Raphael grinned and said, "Happy ta. Someone as hot as ya, Leo, shouldn't be alone."

"But it won't work, Raphael. We're too dissimilar."

"Oh, yeah?" Raphael said, stepping closer to Leo, their faces mere inches apart. He pressed his lips against Leo's, which sent an electric charge through them, making their toes curl and heat pool in their groin. Leo returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around Raphael and pressing him down onto the bed. Raphael spread his legs, broke the kiss and licked his lips invitingly. "Come on, Fearless. Fuck me."

"Fearless?"

"That's my new name for ya. Come on."

Leo suddenly felt very ashamed of himself. Here he was about to fuck a stranger. A very desirable stranger, but a stranger nonetheless. It was so far removed from himself that he felt dirty and disgusted. Dishonorable. His sensei would not have approved. Standing up, he shook his head. "No, Raphael."

"Why are ya stoppin'?" Raphael asked in confusion. "I thought ya wanted ta, Leo."

"I do, but not like this. It's wrong. We don't know one another and it would never work anyway. I'm sorry, Raphael, but I can't give in to this."

"Yer a tease, Leo," Raphael hissed, sitting up. "But that's okay. I ain't mad. It's yer choice and I respect it. Maybe ya will think differently….."

"I won't. I'm going out," Leo said crossly.

"Fine! Have fun," Raphael said, shrugging, as if he didn't care. But he did. He cared so badly, falling for the sapphire eyed turtle hard. So hard, as they'd kissed, he'd imagined them living together on a deserted island. Just them and their babies. Kids. Something that he'd never contemplated before, but Leo was different. He could totally see them living together and being happy. Why can't Leo see that could happen, he thought? Is he just scared of takin' a chance? I'd fuckin' treat him like the god he is and shower him with love. I wish he'd give me a chance.

Leo opened the door and took a step back in surprise, when he saw someone totally unexpected. "Leo, my friend," Usagi said. "I did not know you were on this trip too. It is good to see…" His words were cut off, as an enraged Raphael, his golden eyes blazing, charged him, fists flying into the rabbit's jaw, sending him sprawling onto the ground.

A/N This is the start of a short mini series called Stranded. Prompted by the words: drama, scientist and rowing boat.