"Play Fried Wasps already!"

Babs felt like this was her fourth time of shouting at the band on-stage to play their obviously best song. However, each time, the crowd appeared to drown her requests out. The band definitely didn't heed her, considering how they just continued shredding and singing.

Kara looked at her. "Babs, they're playing them in a specific order. They'll play your song soon enough."

Babs frowned. "But Fried Wasps is the best song they've ever done! Why would they wait so long to play it?"

Kara shrugged. "Saving the best till last, I guess."

The corners of Babs's mouth curled up. "Heh, good point."

Ordinarily, Babs would have never imagined herself going to a hard rock concert. She was more likely to go to one for Up Past Eight, if she had to go to a music concert. However, since going out with Kara, she had found herself going to the Lazarus Pit at least once a month. And, she had to admit, it wasn't too bad. Well, the music wasn't the best in the world (how could she say that when Batdance was a thing?), but it was pretty good. Plus, she always got to dance and hang out with Kara. It helped that there were a good amount of places to make out in, away from public sight.

Right now, she made another call. "Fried Wasps already!"

Kara just stopped her head-banging to laugh. "Babs, come on. Just be patient." She then picked up where she left off. "And enjoy the music!"

Babs folded her arms. "Yeah, yeah." She looked around at all the other people in the mosh pit. They were all head-banging, laughing, or cheering at the top of their lungs. She honestly felt a little left out. So, she started dancing in place, moving her body around to the music. As she danced, she slowly started to move towards Kara. Maybe she could surprise her with a hug-tackle and-

"Oof!"

Babs felt herself crash into someone, causing her to flail about slightly. Regaining her bearings, she saw the person she had bumped into. A girl with tanned skin and brown hair around Kara's age. She was wearing a black leather jacket, a T-shirt with a skull on it, and short black pants. But the most eye-catching thing about her was all the accessories she had. Her ears were pierced, having lightning bolt earrings, while her exposed belly button was also pierced. She also had many tattoos on her, like the Pit Roach logo, a flaming guitar, and even the lead guitarist on stage, decorated in hearts.

"Oops," Babs said, helping the girl up. "Sorry, I just-"

"Hey, it's fine." The girl brushed herself off. "It was an accident." She looked past her. "You know her?"

Babs followed her gaze to spot Kara, still whooping and cheering. The girl smirked as she walked up to her, tapping her on the shoulder.

"Hey, girl!"

Kara turned around to spot the girl. "Oh, hey there." She raised an eyebrow. "Do I know you?"

The girl kept her smile. "Nah, I just spotted you and thought you looked cool." She held out her hand. "I'm Talia."

Kara grinned. "Kara." They shook hands. "Nice getup."

Talia theatrically flipped her hair. "Thanks! You're looking pretty sharp yourself."

"I'm Babs." Babs stood up on her tippy-toes.

Talia smiled. "Hi, Babs!" She turned back to Kara. "So, you come here often?"

"Oh yeah, all the time." Kara pointed to the band. "You like them?"

"Of course!" She performed the sign of the horns. "Malevolent Maniacs are my life."

Kara's grin grew wider. "Awesome!" She slung an arm around Talia. "They're so cool, aren't they?"

"Hell yeah!" Talia laughed. "I listen to their songs literally every day. Plus, the main guy is so dreamy." She swooned before bursting out into laughter again. Kara laughed with her.

Babs, meanwhile, just looked at the two of them. For whatever reason, she felt a little… annoyed. She didn't know why, but looking at Talia made her feel bad. Especially with the way she leaned on Kara and how Kara high-fived her and…

She shook the feeling off, walking back up to the two. "So, you like this band?" Babs asked.

Talia blinked. "I literally just said I did, kid."

Kid? "I'm fifteen!" She stomped her foot in anger, soon realising that something like that was something a 'kid' would do.

Talia apologetically shrugged. "Sorry. I just thought that, considering your height…" She trailed off when she spotted the look on Babs's face; one that Babs hoped was dirty enough to get her feelings across. "Sorry," Talia said sheepishly.

Kara placed a hand on Talia's shoulder. "It's fine. Come on." She pointed away to something. "Let's go jam!"

Talia flashed her smile again. "That sounds like a plan."

Kara turned to Babs. "But of course we…" She stopped talking when she got a good glimpse of Babs's face. "You okay, honey?"

Babs blinked and quickly changed her face to a blank one. "Uh, sure!" She smiled, hoping Kara didn't see how faux it looked.

Thankfully, she didn't seem to. "Let's go then!" Kara announced, taking Babs and Talia by the arms and walking through the mosh pit and all the people. But even then, even when locking arms with her girl, something didn't feel right for her.

"You've got talent, Kara."

Babs watched as Kara's face lit up like she had seen Zee's bunnies. "Thanks, Tal!" She strummed the guitar again, causing another note to ring through the air. "You play well as well."

Talia laughed, leaning back into the beanbag she was sitting in. "Yeah, I've been told that. Why, I bet that I'd be a great rockstar." She stood up, bowing dramatically. Then, suddenly, her face contorted into an ugly sneer. "If only my dad would let me join his band and not be all like 'Nooo, Talia. You need to look after Nyssa and drive her to preschool'." She kicked the ground. "Load of shit, I tell ya."

Kara didn't say anything at first. Then, she turned her attention to Babs, who was also sitting on a beanbag, pulling on her drawstrings. "Babs?"

Babs looked at her. "Hmm?"

"Are… you okay? You haven't said anything for a while."

Babs looked down at her lap. "I'm okay."

"You sure?" Kara asked, moving closer to her and slinging a hand around her. "Because if you need to-"

Babs just sighed. "I think I'm just tired."

Kara looked at her, concerned. "Well, in that case, we'll leave if you want."

Babs shook her head, looking back into Kara's eyes. "I'm not that tired."

Kara just hugged her. "Just tell me if you wanna leave, in that case." She then placed a quick kiss on her cheek before turning her attention back to Talia. Babs also turned her attention over to Talia. The feeling came back, making her fists clench around the soft material of the beanbag she was sitting on. Looking down, she focused on the beanbag instead of thinking anything weird like punching Talia in her gorgeous face.

"So, what's your favourite song by them?" Talia asked.

Babs looked back up, happy to be able to contribute. "'Fried Wasps'! Obviously." She smiled, confident in her answer. "You?"

"Hmm." Talia frowned a little, clearly concentrating. "'Fried Wasps' is obviously a classic, don't get me wrong, but I think my favourite just has to be 'Hellraisers'."

"No way!" Kara sat straight up. "I love 'Hellraisers'! And no one else says it's their favourite!"

"Right?" Talia clapped her hands together. "It's so good!"

Babs had never in her life heard 'Hellraisers'. "What album is that?"

The two other girls looked at her. "It's just a single from ages ago," Kara explained. "Like, back when they were starting out."

"Oh." Babs looked down again. "Never heard it."

"It is pretty underground," said Talia. "Very good, though." She stood up. "In fact, last year, they played it in Gotham. I was there and…" She pulled up her sleeve, revealing yet another tattoo. It was one of a skull, surrounded by the words 'KEEP ROCKING! XOXO, MALEVOLENT MANIACS'.

"Ah, sick!" Kara moved over to look at it closer. "I wish I could have gotten it," she murmured.

Talia just smirked, placing her hands behind her head. "Meh, you'll get your chance." She grabbed her guitar again. "But for now… Allow me to present my daring solo debut!" She then started shredding, making Kara clap and cheer.

Babs just looked at Talia. Once again, the unpleasant feeling had grown stronger. But why? Talia hadn't done anything wrong. She was cool, funny, and, to be honest, was kind of attractive.

But then she looked at Kara and how happy she looked. Then she looked back at Talia, who now had one leg up on a nearby table. She couldn't help but once again notice the tattoos and piercings she had. And how she was super into rock & roll, like Kara. And how they shared the same favourite song. Heck, while she was often called 'cute', Talia seemed to be actually, for want of a better term, 'hot'. She just seemed like the type of girl Kara would find totally awesome. Wait. What if she…

She quickly stood up. "Wait!"

Talia abruptly stopped playing as she looked at Babs. "Something wrong, B?"

"I… Uh… Wait. 'B'?"

Talia smirked. "A nickname."

"O… kay."

"So, what is it?"

"Yeah." Kara looked up at Babs, smiling like she was expecting something she'd like. "Well?"

Babs started to think of something to say. Something that wouldn't make her seem like a loon. Then, she came up with an oldie, but a goodie.

"I have to use the bathroom."

Talia blinked. "Uh, okay." She pointed to her left. "Down the hall there, then take a right."

Babs nodded. "Thanks." With that, she ran off. Entering the bathroom, she splashed water from the sink in her face.

"Ugh, what's wrong with me?" She groaned, staring at herself in the mirror. Why was she being so… antsy? She sighed, grabbing a handful of tissues and drying her face off.

Then the thought came back to her.

She groaned, grabbing herself by the head. "C'mon, Babs. She literally just met Talia. You don't have any competition." She folded her arms and leaned against the wall.

But she seems to have a lot more.

She bristled at the thought. "Shut up, brain!" She lightly smacked herself on the head. Unfortunately, the thoughts kept coming. Talia did have a lot of things Kara was into and she seemed to be someone Kara would find attractive. So, what if Kara really did find her…

Then, an idea popped into her head. She snapped her fingers and smiled. "Of course!" She said aloud. "I've got it!"

What did Talia have over her? Tattoos and piercings! AKA, things that could easily be obtained! She had spotted a tattoo station here, as well as a piercing station. She knew what to do.

So, with reckless abandon, she ran out of the bathroom, nearly knocking over some other girl as excitement began to well up inside her. Time for a makeover!

Kara looked at her watch. It had been an hour since Babs had gone to the bathroom. She folded her arms. "Where is she?" She asked aloud.

Talia stopped going on about how lame her dad was to stare at her. "Who?"

"Babs!" Kara stood up. "She's been in the bathroom for an hour. She's never been in the bathroom for that long."

Talia shrugged. "You never know. One time, my best friend Steve was stuck in the bathroom for two hours because-"

Kara put a finger to her lips. "Tell me later." She placed her guitar down and started to walk towards the bathroom, with Talia following. "Actually, for all I know, she could just be hogging one of the stalls to read one of her comics."

Talia smirked. "Your friend sounds weird. But that's okay. Weird's cool."

Kara grinned. "Trust me. Babs is-"

"Kara!"

Kara stopped as soon as she heard the high, excitable voice. She quickly spun around, a smile on her face. "Babs! What took you so…"

She trailed off once she spotted Babs. Talia also reacted, her eyes widening slightly.

"Woah, B got herself done up."

Talia was right. Babs had changed. Her hoodie was down and her hair was styled in the form of horns, with her ponytail being undone and the hair covering her forehead being pushed up. There, a flaming skull with X's in its eyes, a snake in its teeth, and a banner reading 'CAN'T KEEP IT IN!'. There were also tattoos on her arms, hands, and her legs. Plus, she had also gotten her ears pierced. In fact, she had gotten a nose ring as well. And the smuggest look was plastered across her face.

Kara's mind had gone blank. All that was coming out of her mouth was a quiet "Whaaaaaaaat…"

Babs walked up to the two, her hips swaying. She then posed. "What's up, girls?" Strangely, when she spoke, she barely opened her lips.

Talia was the first to really react. "Damn, B, you look awesome!" She squinted. "Wait. Are those-"

Babs suddenly moved past her to be closer to Kara. "What do you think, babe?" She asked, taking her by the arms, still talking in that odd way. "Awesome, or awesome?"

Kara just continued to stare blankly ahead. "I…"

Babs's face lit up. "Ooh, I nearly forgot!" She stuck out her tongue, revealing yet another piece of metal in it. "Hurts a little, and I can't speak properly, but hey… It works."

She took Kara by the chin. "Soooo…?"

Kara finally got her bearings together and was able to speak normally. "Babs… What the heck?"

Almost instantly, the bright, happy look on Babs's face faded away. Replacing it was one of shock, embarrassment, and a little bit of sadness. "O-Oh…" Babs backed away, her previously confident demeanour completely gone. "Jeez… I, um…"

Kara quickly took her hand again. "Babs, I didn't mean anything by it. It's just… Why did you do this? I mean, this just kinda came out of nowhere."

Babs pulled away, holding onto her own arm. "Do you think we could talk about this… privately?"

Kara just nodded. She then looked at Talia. "Sorry, Tal. I've gotta-"

"No, no," Talia interrupted. "It's fine. My dumb dad told me to get home. Nyssa broke her toy piano and I'm the only one who can fix it." She shot a finger gun at Kara. "You keep in touch, though."

Kara just smiled and nodded before taking Babs's hand and leading her over to a janitor's closet. Thankfully, it was open, so they snuck in and turned on the light.

"Is this a good place?" Kara asked.

Babs shrugged. "It'll work."

"Cool." Kara walked over to her. "So, what's the problem? And why did you do yourself up like that?"

"Don't you like it?"

"I…" Obviously, Kara thought that Babs would look amazing in a trash bag, but what bothered her about this was that she didn't look happy. Even under the smiles and showing off, something about the piercings and tattoos didn't sit right. "Of course you look great, but this isn't your style. What made you decide to get them? And why all at once? Jess had to drag you into the nurse's office last week for a vaccine because you didn't want to get the needle."

"Oswald was spreading rumours that someone snuck poison into it!"

"Not the point, Babs."

Babs folded her arms, then sighed. "I don't know. I mean… I saw Talia and how cool she looks, and I kind of wanted to be that cool too."

Kara blinked. "What? I didn't even think you liked Talia."

"I don't!" Babs hesitated. "Well, I mean, she's fine. I guess. But… she's so pretty. All those tattoos and piercings and… and I realised that she's exactly the kind of girl who's your type, and I'm not." She bit her lip. "I guess I sort of felt lame."

Kara's mouth dropped open. "Babs…" How could Babs ever think she was lame?

Babs wasn't done. "I mean, look at her! Cute hair, cute style, cute… but I don't have any of that. I just look… like a kid." She looked down at her feet and slid down against the wall. She looked sadder than Kara had ever seen her before. Something that made Kara's heart crack.

Kara quickly kneeled down to Babs's level. "Babs, don't say that. I don't care how you dress or look. I just want you to be… y'know, you. Jealousy shouldn't change that."

Babs suddenly blinked rapidly. "I-I wasn't jealous! That term would just be an over exaggeration!"

Kara just raised an eyebrow, causing Babs to look away.

"I mean, I'd say I was more…"

Kara didn't let up her stare.

"I feel like longing would be a better term to use and…"

Eventually, she trailed off and sighed. "Okay, fine. I was jealous."

"I'm good at reading people too," Kara said, smirking a little. Then she frowned again. "But why, exactly?

Babs only mumbled to herself, making Kara raise her head up. "Come on, Babs. I just want to know."

Now knowing that she couldn't just say nothing, Babs looked into her eyes. "I was afraid you liked her more than me."

That was one thing Kara could have never anticipated. "What?"

"I know!" Babs said, her eyes starting to grow misty. "I know that sounds super dumb, but… Like I said, Talia and you just seem to fit, for want of a better term. I thought that, if I changed the way I looked, we wo-"

Kara cut her off by pulling her into a hug. "Babs, stop it. You're overthinking things. Again."

She heard Babs sniff. "You sure?"

"Of course!" Kara moved Babs's head so that they could look at each other. "Look, Talia's really cool as a friend. Like, someone to go out and play guitars with. But you…" She paused, trying to think of the best way to put this. "You're the one I want to be with. It doesn't matter how cool other people are, because I'm with you and no one could ever be a better fit for me than you."

Babs didn't say anything. Instead, she just smiled as her eyes started to well up. "Kara, that's so sweet…" She looked away. "Dang it, now I'm crying…" She grabbed Kara's arm and started wiping her face on her sleeve. Soon, once she was done, she looked up at her, raising an eyebrow.

"Do I really look good?"

Kara blinked. "Uh… Yeah!"

Babs smirked, and brushed her hair back to its traditional style and tied her hair back up again. "Good to know. Y'know, in case I even actually do get into stuff like this." With that, she stood back up. "Speaking of which…"

Kara stood up with her. "Yeah?"

"Do the guys here also remove piercings?"

Well, that wasn't what she was expecting.

"Dunno."

"Well they'd better! Otherwise, my dad's going to die of a heart attack! And then kill me!"

Kara sighed. "Look, I'm sure we'd be able to find someone who can do it. And the tattoos will come off with a little bit of-"

Babs blinked. "Tattoos? Oh, right." She grabbed the tattoo on her forehead and… peeled it off.

Kara's mouth hung open. "Huh?"

"I didn't get actual tattoos. I just got fake ones."

After a brief bit of silence, Kara just burst out laughing, leaning up against the wall. "And that's just… another reason I love you…" She slid down, still chuckling. Babs just giggled and jumped onto her lap.

"I was going to get my belly button pierced, but the ears and tongue hurt enough." She wrapped her arms around Kara as they stood up. "Probably for the best. That part of Talia just looked a little silly."

Kara rolled her eyes as she opened the door. "Well, I thought it was cool. Can you imagine how many piercings I would get if I could?"

Babs just laughed. "Tell me on the way back home. But for now… let's get these things removed."