Day 1 - Prompt: Touch
The relationship between Rogue and Magneto fascinates me for a number of reasons, but one in particular is the lack of importance on touch. After the 80s, much of Rogue's anguish from her inability to touch others focused less on her inward struggles with guilt and shame of how she can hurt others, the feeling of isolation of never being able to hug or safely be next to her friends, families, and ever strangers without hurting them. Instead the focus shifted to how her inability to touch impacts her romantic relationships as she felt insecure about having a lover she could not touch. One could argue it was a natural progression or shift of Rogue growing into an adult like her older peers, but unfortunately that progression led to stagnation halfway through the 90s and quickly regression that we still see on and off today.
The connection with Magneto happened between the transition period of her coming to terms with her powers following her great and heartbreaking storylines in the 80s, and then the early 90s where she was thrown head first back into feeling insecure about herself. The ability to touch safely wasn't an issue when Rogueneto first had their spark and when they parted ways and met up again throughout the 90s it still wasn't a concern or at least their main concern. The relationship between the two went beyond the physical their connection came from an emotional, sometimes mental, and empathetic understanding of the other. The entire Joseph storyline was about whether Joseph should be trusted or should Rogue tell him about his past as Magneto, but it was rarely about her not being able to touch him. The only genuine time her powers came into the equation for him was during the Christmas story where he gave Rogue a gift of momentary physical touch. But overall her powers did not define that relationship.
Age of Apocalypse was similar, Roguneto were already in love but in denial about it until being able to touch allowed them to freely admit their feelings. It wasn't the touching that made them fall in love. The ability to touch was a bonus.
Back in 616, Rogue flying off to Genosha to plead with Magneto to turn back to the X-Men and remember what connection the two had. All while she was powered up. Their issues went beyond her touch. It was a struggle based on their philosophical differences at that time.
The connection was highlighted in the 2010s when Rogueneto got their official start. Once again, Rogue's power wasn't an issue but the difference in their viewpoints and past antagonism was. However, they shared real feelings for each other and the more time spent near or with each other led them to making their relationship official.
For Rogue, a character defined, in many ways, by her inability to touch, Roguneto represents a relationship that looked beyond what touch meant in the grand scheme of things. The times they touched were not crux of their relationship. It was a moment of intimacy. Rogueneto is not a relationship that works in spite Rogue's powers, an obstacle to overcome, it is a relationship that considers her powers as part of the whole package.
Rogueneto is a great ship for Rogue as it showcases her beyond her struggles with touching, beyond her insecurities about love and self-worth. It's a relationship that's built on connection, true connection, and the difficulties of having a connection with someone she may not have the opportunity to be with at all.
