Rogue absorbs more than powers. Contact can bring memories and personality into her mind, while weakening the other person. Holding on too long can make the damage much worse.

Rogue absorbs more than powers. Contact can bring memories and personality into her mind, while weakening the other person. Holding on too long can make the damage much worse. Her first kiss is how she finds out how dangerous contact can be. The boy she kisses ends up in a coma. She discovers something about herself by hurting somebody she wanted to be close to. That makes a lot of ordinary things difficult. Touching somebody she cares about can hurt them. Getting close to people requires precautions other people never have to think about. With Carol, the problem is already inside her. She has memories of a life she didn't live and another personality that can interfere with her own. Being stronger doesn't help her sort out which thoughts belong to her. By Uncanny #171, she's desperate enough to go to Xavier. She's asking people she's attacked to help her keep control of her own mind. Xavier agrees to take her in, despite how the team feels. For the others, that means sharing their home with somebody who hurt their friend and hoping his judgment is right.