Wufei listened distantly as Sally switched her speech to the Arabic of L4, watching as Quatre's face grew continuously more hopeful.  He looked at the man, Carter, who seemed to be desperately trying to understand, and yet at the same time appeared to have accepted the fact that he wouldn't.  Wufei sighed, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms in what appeared to be a relaxed position.  How much longer is she going to continue?  She should know we will not really be able to translate his dialect until we hear it.  Stupid onna. 

            Suddenly the man spoke in an irritated tone, interrupting Sally and making Wufei snap to attention.  Carter was leaning forward, his face calm looking, yet Wufei could see the impatience in the brown eyes.  All five pilots and Sally stared at him in surprise until he appeared to come to his senses and adopted an acceptable look of chagrin.  He raised his hands in an appeasing gesture, his eyes narrowing as he seemed to concentrate on what to do next.  Finally he started to speak.  Wufei listened intently, recognizing the man's dialect, before he suddenly switched and started speaking in another language altogether.  Wufei looked around the group to see if any there understood.

            Trowa was leaning against the wall as well, yet Wufei could see his one green eye focused intently on the man, his brow knitted slightly as he tried to understand.  Then Carter switched languages again and this time Quatre seemed to try to understand what he was saying.  Wufei blew a breath forcefully out of his lungs, letting his own impatience show at last and started moving towards the door. 

~*~*~*~

            Words, words, words.  The thought kept running ironically through Gabriel's head as he searched desperately for the right language, something that would connect him to these people.  He started with French, but that didn't work.  Then Spanish, Italian, Arabic, hell, even some of the Japanese he knew.  But there was nothing, no sign of recognition, no acknowledgement, nothing.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw the Chinese man, Wufei, heave a sigh and head towards the door.  Then Gabriel wanted to slap his forehead in exasperation.  Of course!  Why didn't you think of this before, you stupid, idiotic…

            "Wait, don't leave, Wufei." He tried desperately in the Chinese he knew.  It worked.  Wufei stopped in the doorway and slowly turned around.  "I think I found the right one this time." Gabriel said, smiling slightly.  Wufei didn't return the smile, moving forward until he was standing next to Sally. 

            "How do you know the language of the Dragon Clan?" Wufei asked in Chinese, his eyes growing dark with suspicion. 

Gabriel raised his eyebrows.  "Dragon Clan?"  
Abruptly Wufei moved even closer so his face was mere inches from Gabriel's.  "How do you know the sacred language of my people?"  Or at least, that's

what Gabriel assumed he'd said.  Honestly he didn't trust his knowledge of Chinese. 

            "Where I come from," Gabriel tried, frowning as he searched for the right words, "Chinese isn't sacred." 

            Wufei's eyes narrowed dangerously.  "And where is it you come from that Dragon tongue isn't sacred?" 

            Gabriel's frown deepened.  "Here, of course."

            "Here?"

            "Yes, here, but not here.  I can't, I don't know how to say it.  I don't even think it's possible for me to talk-story it.[1]"  Gabriel shrugged helplessly.  Wufei looked about to respond before there was a delighted whoop behind him, and Duo clapped a hand on his shoulder, jabbering excitedly.  Wufei merely rolled his eyes, trying to shake the braided man off, muttering about long-winded idiots.  Gabriel grinned.  Wufei seemed to be all bark and no bite since he didn't actually do anything he threatened Duo with (including long painful deaths involving pointy objects).  Duo acted oblivious to Wufei's mutterings, instead peering closely at Gabriel and saying something in their language.  He then looked expectantly at Wufei who rolled his eyes again. 

            "The braided idiot says to welcome you here.  And if you ever need a place to stay, you are more than welcome to stay with…what?  No!"  Wufei spun to look angrily at Sally who shrugged her shoulders slightly.  Gabriel waited patiently, his eyebrows raised in polite curiosity. 

~*~*~*~

            "No, Po, he will not be staying with me!" Wufei said stoutly, his arms crossing. 

            "But Wu-man, you're the only one who can understand him." Duo pleaded, "And besides, you've got more than enough room at your place.  You know he couldn't stay with us, we have no room."

            "What about Winner and Barton?  Winner has more money than any other person in this universe, surely he can afford to build an entirely new house for the man."

            "Oh, Wufei, you know I would love to help him out, but Duo does have a point, you are the only one who can understand him.  What would it be saying about us if we don't offer him the proper welcome?" Quatre said softly.

            "You're too soft-hearted, Winner.  The fact is, I don't have enough room in my house for more than one person."

            "Well, you could offer him your bed, and you could be a gracious host and sleep on the couch, or," Duo waggled his eyebrows expressively, "you could keep him company…"

            "Aa!  No, Maxwell!  Yuy, Barton, what do you two have to say about this?" Wufei turned desperately to the silent ones in the background.  His only responses were the characteristic, "Hn." from Heero, and Trowa's raised eyebrows.  "Kisama save me!" Wufei threw his hands up before storming out of the room, leaving five amused people and one very confused Carter.

[1]  In China, when they tell stories, usually to explain a point, it's called "talk-story," or at least that's the English translation of it. 

A/N:  Mwahaha!  I figured out how to get Gabriel into the same house as Wuffie!  Of course he would know Chinese, he wouldn't be a very good Mary Sue if he didn't. ^_^  Hope you enjoyed, until next time!