You see, that's been my sneaking hunch. Axel, when Roxas leaves, acts like someone who never got to express his feelings. Or maybe did not fully realize them until he was losing Roxas. Once Roxas gives him the smallest hint of remembrance, Axel is all over it. His behavior there does remind me of some foolish behaviors I've done in my own life towards someone I liked. The part about gushing and being super exicted if the object of your affection gives you any attention whatsoever.

That might be an interesting spin on things, if Axel just discovered that he has feelings for Roxas which could be leading to all this desperation in KHII.

I am feeling sorta pulled in and feeling sorry for Axel despite all his murdering and misdeeds in COM. He is a bastard, like you said, but still... there's a line in the Read Or Die movie about "You were a bastard, but not even you deserved to die alone" to more or less that effect.