Please don't let

You literally tried to paint Sharpe as a pedophile just 'cause he admitted that AJ has always been a pretty kid lol

You are completely ignoring my entire post 'cause you think that if someone finds another human being visually pleasing it means they wanna bone them.

Sharpe didn't become romantically or sexually attracted to AJ till after the met up again. You can tell that he genuinely wants the best for AJ and that's why he gave him this opportunity to do something that could grant him freedom for the rest of his life. Yeah, it's a dangerous job, but so is being a prostitute for a psycho who literally has you drugged up and gang raped.

AJ never got the chance to have a normal childhood or adult life. Sharpe is the one who is helping him get this chance and all ya'll can think is "ewwww men amiright" when there hasn't been anything sus this whole time. Also, Sharpe says some mean shit but that's 'cause AJ is a snarky kid and does things to push his buttons. They've both got trust issues between the two of them as well given their history.

This series wasn't meant to be a slice of life one where the conflict is barely even surface level deep. Their fighting is part of what makes this story more realistic and involved. If you can't even comprehend this then maybe you should go read something else instead of trying to make mountains out of mole hills.

I will be honest. I never would’ve read that story if I came across it now. It’s one of the first stories I’ve read, I absolutely despise age gaps in any kind of romantic webtoons, and never would’ve read it if I was just to start it. I just simply can’t tolerate it usually because on a large part I do read only fiction that also somewhat agrees with my real life values (most of the time), otherwise it frustrates me. But since I’ve started reading this a while ago, and I like the plot and have a somewhat sentiment towards the characters + like them as individuals, I kinda try my best to ignore it and read it for the story and the healthy aspects of their relationship. But yes, for a large part I do agree with you and that’s the kind of point of view I usually have too. This webtoon is kind of an exception for me, maybe also because it’s not so in your face.

I see it differently - I’m actually impressed with how this author develops back story to make both characters sympathetic. Sharpe was also a kid (16 years old) with no where to go when he was manipulated into a horrifying “career”. He spent 10 years in that state knowing he’d be killed if he tried to get out, and when his contract was up, he isolated himself from people (5 years there and as AJ notices, his place doesn’t even look lived in). He’s got a hard learned shell of hardness because he was forced to develop that to survive in his circumstances.

I think in his association with AJ, Sharpe is recovering parts of his own humanity. Yes, he starts from what he has learned - manipulation, but we’re seeing that change thru the course of this. We are primarily seeing the story from AJ’s POV, and his vulnerabilities are obvious. But even tho strong, stern, and stoic is mainly what we see of Sharpe, AJ is his catalyst for growth.

I really like how this author shows the range and depth of how different forms of abuse affect people at any age, and yet how they can grow and develop and change patterns of behavior. Yeah, the artwork was what first caught my attention (both AJ and Sharpe are beautiful men), but in reading it, I’m really impressed with the development of the characters. I don’t see a need to give grace to either character - their backgrounds brought them to where they are, and their association is helping each learn.

Yes, there is an age and power gap, but I think these last few chapters clearly show Sharpe trying to be very respectful of that distance in letting AJ take the lead in anything personal developing between them.