None of them are necessarily a "bad" person, but none of them are good either.
They've both made mistakes
Leo with his bratty, self centered attitude; and JJ with his brick wall, immature personality
They both have many things to work on
And honestly, I don't think they suit eachother very well
It's just that right now, people are seeing JJ's fuckery from Leo's perspective and they're pointing out the obvious.
I'm sure when it gets to the other side of the story, everyone will be talking smack about Leo
And last but not least, my own opinion
I think they're both jerks but JJ is the bigger jerk and here's why:
1- He broke up a relationship of five years while the other party was drunk
2- He prepared himself both mentally and financially before breaking up but left Leo to deal with it on his own after dropping a bomb on him like that in the middle of his racing season
3- Since the very start he didn't use his words properly. Even before they start dating, JJ would always give attitude instead of criticising Leo's driving as a fan. He was just being rude and cold without saying why.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE
4- As a fellow person who has a bigger than average body I think I should point this out:
You must never, I repeat, NEVER use your body to assert dominance ESPECIALLY when they're smaller than you
Yes, we are privileged to reach the highest cabinet or be the bigger spoon in bed; but that's it. We even need to be more gentle than average people to make them feel safe. What JJ did in that warehouse was horrible. Unforgivable. He really crossed the line
At what point did JJ talk to Leo I can’t find it? There’s chapter 7 when JJ says he felt like a sex toy, but that was after their relationship. I can’t remember anything about JJ communicating to Leo about their relationship before their separation.
After going through the chapters I only found in chapter 13 were it said JJ in fact did not say anything and only bottled thing up, but that was from Leo’s pov so idk.
I do understand your point don’t get me wrong. I do see why he’s getting so much hate regarding the warehouse scene and I’m not trying to excuse his actions there at all. What I mean is that Leo has taken a lot from JJ and it doesn’t feel fair that everyone is hating on his character just because he reached a breaking point in their relationship.
I don’t think we’re making an effort to put ourselves in the shoes of the top. Setting aside his actions in the warehouse for a second, he became kind of Leo’s sexual toy according to the flashback chapters, and it seems that to a certain point JJ had completely normalised that until he couldn’t anymore. I see your point about him preparing in advance and also breaking up with him in the middle of the season, but can you really blame JJ for looking after himself considering he doesn’t seem to have the same background as Leo (who’s clearly generationally rich etc). Also is there really a good moment to break up with someone? Be it the mid-season, pre-season or after season…
Again, I’m not trying to counter your comment in a wrong way, I just feel like his feelings are being completely disregarded, and perhaps we are being too good to Leo because of personal preconceptions. Both are dealing with this in an unhealthy way but I feel like all the sympathy goes to Leo and it makes me angry ngl. I do respect your point of view and agree with a lot of things it’s just that I wanted to vouch a little for JJ.
Well, it is true he doesn’t say much. I might be reading way to much between the lines, but in the first chapter he was left cock out, mid-phrase by Leo.
I don’t know if this is me overestimating JJ’s attempts to improve the relationship, but it feels like it’s always been that way between them.
Perhaps it’s just me being too good on JJ and I’m also in the wrong, sorry.
I feel like JJ is the type of person to just bottle things up, he's an introvert and seems to like to avoid confrontation while Leo is extroverted, immature, bratty and too egotistical to see the wrongs in his own doings. JJ may have made attempt in the past, but I don't believe it could have been strong/straight forward. In not truly doing anything JJ only has enabled Leo behaver, while he's not at fault for all he's suffered he didn't help the situation. Both are too emotionally immature to be together, JJ can't stand up for himself and is now just being petty. Leo is just straight up immature and deeply needs a lot of personal growth, the only way that is happening is if they are taught which I doubt, so that leaves to him suffering and hoping for the best.
But honestly atp I just think people defend Leo’s character and actions based only on his pretty face and the fact he’s the bottom. Basically pretty privilege.
Dude, JJ did try to communicate. They had been together for over 5 years if I remember correctly, he is a serious and reliable person. He has helped him so much all over the years (training him, controlling his food intake, saving his ass in multiple situations…), and I’m sure Leo did things for JJ too, but it doesn’t feel proportional whatsoever according to the narrative.
Guys remember our introduction to them both was literally Leo snatching JJ away to use him as a meat rod, cumming, upping and going. He’s been caught in a club about to have sex with another man, just few days after JJ asked him to break up… Even if JJ knows he’s just bad with words, if all the relationship was like that, I would also feel it’s useless to explain or even try to make sense out of the relation.
I don’t like that they are fwb because is just too messy imo, and it shows how much both are clinging to each other due to mutual toxicity. But I don’t think it is fair to put the same amount of blame on JJ since he has been clearly depicted as someone who at least tried to communicate in several occasions but has, just as swiftly, been ignored by Leo. Guys, no, it’s no cool that JJ pinned Leo down in a warehouse so violently, but just because you’re cute, funny and dumb you don’t get a free “get out of jail” card every time.