Morally gray characters don’t hit because they’re evil.

They hit because they don’t pretend.

They don’t sanitize desire into politeness. They don’t perform goodness for applause. They don’t lie about hunger.

And readers? Readers are starving for honesty.

We’re tired of perfect men with perfect morals who somehow never feel anything inconvenient.

Give me the one who knows he’s dangerous and chooses restraint anyway.

Give me the one who says, “I want you,” like it’s a fact, not a pickup line.

That’s not toxicity.

That’s clarity.