The "X-Men" movie series showed Magneto and Professor Xavier as friends, rivals, and temporary allies, but the one relationship status they left out was lovers.
That has not stopped fans from clamoring for "Cherik," a relationship name combining Xavier's first name, Charles, and Magneto's real name, Erik.
In the comics and movies, the pair mostly lead the opposing sides of the mutant race debate: Should the race of superpowered individuals assimilate into society and hide their abilities or should they share their powers with the world openly, no matter the fears of humans?
The rivalry between Magneto and Xavier in the comics gives far more evidence of their romance, however, there is also an insane amount of chemistry between the actors playing them in the films.
In the original 2000s trilogy, Magneto (Ian McKellen) and Xavier (Patrick Stewart) play a cat-and-mouse game of never trying to kill each other, despite being sworn enemies. This might be out of respect, or for the movie's plot, but for someone so hellbent on mutant supremacy, you would think Magneto would at least attempt to directly attack his rival, especially since he is immune to Xavier's power.
Fans also point to the chemistry in the bromantic relationship between Michael Fassbender's Magneto and James McAvoy's Xavier in the 2010s "X-Men" films
The biggest sign comes in the 2014 film, "X-Men: Days of Future Past," which is set in a future where McKellen's Magneto and Stewart's Xavier team up against an existential threat to all mutants. While this was to show the importance of the threat, the pair act almost like an old married couple.
McKellen has spoken to BuzzFeed in the past about how the "X-Men" movies could be an allegory for the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community.
It would have been better to take it one step further and actually have open LGBTQ+ characters on the team.