Building bonds. She liked the way that sounded, as compared to the human way that such intimacy seemed to often only cause trouble and tear apart perfectly good relationships. Rogue had said before that she wasn't looking for the typical human relationship, and that was still true. She wanted nothing more than to build on the easy companionship they already shared.

"I've never been the clingy sort," she told him with half a smirk, "and I think there's very little in the universe that could make me think of you as less than my friend and commander. And I would rather eat my own shoe than disrespect your authority."

She'd always taken great pains to address him properly around his crew, to follow his orders to the letter. He deserved that from her, but she also wasn't stupid enough to think she knew better than him when she was still such a stranger in this strange land. None of that would change if they added this aspect to their relationship.