Author's Note: Wheew, I burned myself out with all that writing I did at my aunt's. But here's the next chapter. It involves Bahamut and the theory of why dragons kidnap princesses, as well touching on the fact that virgins taste the best. Although, I didn't go very much into that and might do another chapter on it in the future.

Edited 9/11/11

Warnings: I was mean to Cloud again...

Disclaimer: FFVII is not mine. I want to ride a chocobo, though.

Intelligent Conversation

"Summons aren't meant to be used like this!" ~ Zack Fair

"So, I read a new book yesterday."

Predictably, Genesis' eyes brightened. "What book?" he queried.

"Not Loveless," Cloud replied, rolling his eyes.

"Hmph. When you're my student, that is going to be the very first thing I'll have you do. Read it, analyze it, read it again, then have a discussion and a test."

"Yeah, well..." He changed the subject. "The book I read was about a dragon who kidnapped a princess, and the hero had to fight the dragon to save her."

The commander snorted. "Who loaned it to you? Zack?"

"Angeal."

"Figures. He's into those kinds of sappy romance stories where they all live happily ever after."

As the two of them strolled along chatting about Cloud's book, SOLDIER members in the hallway turned to stop and stare. It was rare enough for the hot-tempered First to grace the floor with his presence, but to be engaged in pleasant conversation with a cadet? It was completely unheard of. As far as anyone knew, the only thing Commander Rhapsodos used infantrymen for was to make sure his sword was still sharp.

Everyone kept well away, in case Genesis suddenly decided to commit mass murder. And when did he dye his hair blond?

Cloud tried to ignore the attention they were getting. "Why is it that dragons always seem to kidnap princesses?" he asked.

"Dragons are greedy monsters," Genesis said, "and they can get the best ransom for someone in the royal family. While the king would be the best candidate, there's always the possibility that he will have the strength to defeat the dragon. The queen would be surrounded by too many guards, but the princess is just young and naïve enough to be lured out and picked off when no one is looking."

Furrowing his brow, Cloud tried to remember if the dragon had in fact asked for a ransom. Or if the dragon could even talk. "That seems awfully complex for a dragon."

Genesis shrugged. "Alright then, perhaps princesses just taste the best."

"Why would they taste the best?"

"Well, more often than not, they're virgins."

The cadet jolted to a halt. "Okay, seriously," he snapped. "What is it with mythology and virgins? It's cruel and unusual punishment to scare people into having sex so they won't get eaten or sacrificed. I fail to see how it would make a difference in how we taste or whether or not it would appease the gods."

"Oh Cloud," Genesis sighed, putting his hands on the shorter blond's shoulders. "My dear, sweet, innocent chocobo. You really have no idea, do you? I'll tell you what..."

Cloud instantly became wary.

"We'll go to the training room, I'll let Bahamut out, and we'll see which one of us he goes after. If he goes after your virgin little-self, my theory will be proved correct and I, the dashing hero, will come to save the princess' royal behind."

Shaking his head vehemently, Cloud jerked away. "No way am I going to be the princess. I'm degraded enough as it is."

"Fine," Genesis scoffed. "I'll just find someone else to be the princess. And I have the perfect person in mind. You can be my trusty steed instead."

"Wha-?" Before the cadet could high-tail it down the hall, he was dragged in front of Genesis and the commander hopped onto him, piggyback style. Cloud lurched forward, his face nearly colliding with the wall. More heads turned, trying not to laugh while the infantryman was almost crushed by the SOLDIER First. "Gaia!" he gasped. "What are you doing?"

"You didn't want to be the princess, so I gave you a different role," Genesis replied, as if this were actually reasonable.

"Gahh." The cadet fought to keep his balance while trying to convince his legs not to buckle and have them both end up on the floor. "How about I be the hero?"

The commander laughed, causing his weight to shift again. "As if," he snorted, then jabbed a finger in the direction of the elevator. "Onward, chocobo!"

"Wark."

"Go, or you'll be my bald chocobo."

And so Cloud got his daily workout carrying his six-foot, ridiculously heavy superior officer down the hall, up the elevator, and down a long line of offices. All he could think about was how glad he was that Genesis didn't make him take the stairs. Panting and sweating, the human chocobo was only too happy once they reached their destination.

The commander leaned over to poke a button on the keypad, making the door slide open to reveal the pristine office of General Sephiroth. Cloud paled as the silver-haired man glanced up, arching an eyebrow at their rather... odd arrival.

"New ride, Genesis?" Sephiroth asked.

The blond felt a piece of him die.

Genesis ignored his "chocobo's" embarrassment and waved at the general. "C'mon, we're gonna go play with Bahamut and we need someone to be the damsel in distress."

Much to Cloud's surprise, Sephiroth seemed to take it all in stride. "Should I bring the dress Reno gave me?

Maybe too well in stride.

As it turned out, inviting the general was an extremely good decision. Bahamut quickly caught on that his summoning was not a dire life-or-death situation and his master just wanted to spar. The Dragon King, however, quickly noted that the little spiky-haired boy was on the brink of exhaustion already and thought him to be an easy lunch. It took the better part of an hour for Genesis and Sephiroth to beat him down, and a full three hours to get Cloud to come out from behind the weapons rack.

Genesis claimed his theory was proven, but both Bahamut and Cloud knew better.

A/N: Any more ideas to torture Cloud-I mean, uh, for Gen and Cloud to talk about? Leave them in a review! I looooooove you guys!

RegenesisX