Yeah, he was but... it didn't really start then.

[...oh boy this is gonna be fun...]

I didn't realize it at the time - didn't realize it at all until he asked me exactly when it started, really - but I've been interested since Ishval. He's... not you, but the only similarities I noticed at the time were in appearance.

[Even now the only real differences he's seeing are that you're... less inclined to stare him down at all times and you're kind of a bitch.]