complicated or what?

well am hoping to get advice and come to terms with this,I have been on and off with a guy for 6 years,we haven't had a great relationship he has aspergers and he has really struggled for years and he's been verbally abusive etc to me many occasions and became a pattern where we would be fine then he would change and call me all the names under the sun say horrible things then not speak to me for months,then he vanished and never heard from him for a about 2 years or so then he re appeared and a lot of stuff went down and he is in a hospital for mental illness and this is where we stand right now....recently we never spoke for months he disappeared and then showed up again wanting to speak to me and told me he loves me and wants to see me etc,however just started a new job and I told him I will do the best I can to get to see him,couple of days later he tells me he's in love with someone else tells me he really cares about me though and really likes me etc,but says that the girl who he supposed to be in love with he will never ever see her again,then he says to me that he really likes me he really cares about me,he respects me etc and he's confused and trying to do the right thing,I told him I needed some time and I had to go to get away from him,but he kept messaging me for 2 days straight asking if I'm ok and hoping that I'm ok and I can talk to him anytime etc,so we had the conversation and we decided that we could try and be friends,but lately I dunno something isn't right,he flirts with me,he asks me stuff what you would ask in a relationship like do you think I'm handsome and rate me out of your exes etc,and I asked him why and he said that he cares about my opinion,then he asked to meet me and I said yes and he kept on asking me if I would get upset and I said no one time I would of coz we were together but now we are not we are friends and it's gunna be different and when I say things like this he goes quite for a full day never replies and then acts a bit offish the next day,oh and he messages me everyday,so if anyone can have any insight into what he's doing or anything I would appreciate this because I love him and I am lost and I just need advice....anyone please and thank you