Why not? I feel like it has been a long time since I have had it in me to care about anyone, longer than I can even remember.

[ Which isn't very long anymore, considering, but for all the pieces he can feel missing, he is finding new ways to fill them in. Owen is one of those. He will slot him somewhere into his heart where it has been emptied out by what he has lost and then everything will be better than ever before.

Even though the smile he's giving Owen is genuine, there really is something a little... distant? In his gaze as he looks up adoringly at him. ]

That feels like it should be serious, to me, in a good way.