This by no means reflects the thoughts of others in the fandom, this is my own personal opinion based on thoughts, observations and head canons gleaned from information and evidence presented through the various games.
Axel. Had. No. Redemption Arc.
This it is a big part of his character and I will say, while I will explain why he does what he does or my opinion of it, I will not excuse it. I will not make light of it. I am not trying to sway you into forgiving him or to feel any sympathy for him. You are not obligated to. Nor is your character required to forgive him.
Now without further ado:
Axel faded at the end of KH2 after he defended Sora in the Betwixt and Between, this seemed to be a turning point for him, a good deed that he faded for preforming, but lets rewind for a moment.
This is also the person who single handedly orchestrated the murder of an entire castle of people (Castle Oblivion crew in Re:Com), the same individual who was willing to lie to and ultimately murder the kid he considered his best friend (Roxas) you might say that this is one bad dude.
I'd agree. He is a terrible person. He is every bit of the Assassin of the Organization 13. However I would also like to look at why he is like this, what made him into this terrible person because as we can see in BBS this was not the happy teen that hung out with his best friend in Radiant Garden, and liked to eat SeaSalt Ice Cream.
Something happened, something changed.
What changed is the loss of his heart at such a crucial age, but this was only the beginning, because as a Nobody, he didn't just turn into a murderer. Losing a heart does not equal such a drastic change in morality. Though it makes it easier to dissuade moral values for things less desirable in a normal society.
Lea was turned into a killer. A living weapon to be used as the Organization, as Xemnas saw fit. This was done through training, through manipulation and conditioning. Both horrific and terrible. Things that likely happened in the course of the time between games. You don’t just become okay with killing because someone asks you to. And Lea did not show signs of being a sociopath.
He was pushed, punished and forced to forget the notion of right and wrong that he'd learned as a child, and in his teenage years, which are very crucial the most relevant reason is a persons establishment of a sense of self. Even though psychological studies say we start to recognize who we are during infancy, we decide who we are when we are teenagers. We decide what we want to learn, where to go to college, what we like and don't like.
Teenage years are the time when a child's mind is maturing, and while Axel’s was maturing, he was learning killing was a necessity.
The only person he'd bonded to was there with him trapped in that hell and being subjected to his own brand of manipulation and coercion.
Now, one might argue that Axel could have rebelled, could have said no, and while I could say yes I will also say, why would you when your first instinct in any situation is to come out alive. Even if you do not wish to live, your body will struggle to survive. Survival instinct is not something easily ignored. Children in abusive situations often find themselves trapped and feeling helpless with no way out.
There was also the matter of Saix, he would not leave him there either. This was not a choice for them. This life, however it is a life they accepted. They were victims who were groomed to be terrible people.
Children who were clutching at the only remaining constant in their lives, each other. Its not easy to abandon something, especially something you are constantly used to having/seeing, in your life.
I would also like to point out that at some point this does change for Axel when he begins to bond with Roxas and Xion, not a great deal but enough for him to begin to rebel. Not so much that he can just drop the things he's learned and the things he knows.
Which brings me back to Roxas, when it became obvious he could not get him to return to the Organization once the blond defected, he fell back on what he knew to deal with a problem.
To kill.
He was unsuccessful of course but he was still very willing to murder the kid.
Is this entirely Axel's fault, no. However, forgiveness for such things is not expected. Sometimes it cannot even be earned. Its always up to the victim in that case, others can form their own opinions and conclusions based on the presented facts.
You might say upon re-completion and the fact that he now has a keyblade he's a good guy. Everything is all rainbows and kittens.
Wrong.
Keyblades do not = good guys.
Case in point, Xehanort has done some terrible terrible shit, he's the reason shit went down, he has a heart and he has a keyblade.
Light does not make you inherently good, darkness is not inherently evil.
And while Lea is a Guardian of Light, and has forgiveness from several characters, that still does NOT make what he did okay (its not forgotten nor null and void). He's still not a redeemed character. He died without ever saying he was sorry for what he did. Verbally the only person he has apologized to is Kairi.
Who forgave him. Of her own volition.
He is still very capable of murder, of selfishness, and equally he is capable of doing good, when Terranort tried to go after Kairi, Lea shielded her physically with his keyblade and his body.
He struggles yes, with the things he did because of his heart knows that the things he did were wrong, but does that stop him from repeating those mistakes?
No.
If someone threatened those he has come to care for he is very capable of removing them permanently. He knows its wrong but he also knows that it will end the threat.
Leaving he himself, and the rest of his friends/ family unhamred.
Someone who is redeemed would no longer entertain thoughts like this. They would know there are other ways, better things to do to handle this.
Not Lea, he was made into a weapon, a predator, and he is still very much the same beast.
Should you forgive him?
Should you sympathize with him?
Should you understand why he is the way he is?
All questions that you have to decide for yourself.
Yes he is a monster, but this monster was made. He wasn't born.
That does not make him less of a terrible individual. He can still be the devil.
Now its at his own discretion rather than the direction of someone else.
So not he's not redeemed. He's done terrible things. I won't crucify him for it but at the same time I won't make excuses for him. He hasn’t apologized for any of it. Even with Sora. He offered an excuse for his actions.
‘I wanted to see Roxas’
His reasoning was selfish and his actions thus far were not altruistic.
Right is right and wrong is still wrong. Even if done with the best intentions in mind.
As they say: ‘The Road to Hell is paved with Good Intentions.’
In the end, many in the fandom have disregarded Axel’s crimes, swept them under the rug or made excuses about them. What he did was still in no uncertain terms evil. He hasn’t apologized for it. He’s only show remorse in connection with those he has formed bonds with. Roxas, Xion, and Kairi to name a small few. He has done good, he’s helped save the collective of words and fought against the heartless, this does not outweigh nor erase the past, only that people have in some fashion chosen to forget. You will not find that on my blog. I will continue to explore this side of the character as it was an important tool in his development and not easily cast aside. Take that as you will, however, know to expect that my Axel/Lea will not be treated like he is Redeemed. The assassin is still there, lurking. Only this time. The wolf knows to wear his sheepskin suit.
