"Hey everyone, sorry I was gone so long."

"Hey Castoro! I didn't even notice you'd left."

"Yup, but now I'm back!"

All modified quotes aside, hey all! I'm back to resume my mission to spread the word of Kataang across the fandom!...by writing OneShots about it (as if there's any SHORTAGE of those going around). Anyhow, I'm going to actually start writing Avatar stories that are longer than just OneShots, so look forward to them!

This was inspired by a series of doodles I made in my notebook...and the simple fact I've always wanted to see Aang on cactus juice. YAY!

Disclaimer That Lets Me Live to Write Another Day: Avatar and all related characters belong to Viacom.

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Under the Influence

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There were a list of things Katara would love to see in her lifetime. Aang stumbling around like a madman, giggling and chattering to himself was not one of them.

Apparently, Sokka had smuggled a bit of cactus juice out of the desert (Katara did not even WANT to fathom why), and, as a 'little joke' as he so defensively put it, slipped Aang some. Now, here she was, supervising the 112-year-old Avatar as he spun in crooked circles, in the most euphoric high any person could be in, babbling about all the pretty colors. After a thorough chewing-out, Sokka had wasted no time in putting as much space between him and Katara as possible, knowing how Katara was when she was mad. Toph followed in suit.

"It's like flying!" Aang prattled, flopping onto his back, spreading wide his arms and launching into another bout of laughter. "Lots of birds. I like flying."

Katara stifled a laugh. He looked utterly ridiculous. His outfit was in shambles from all his 'carefree' romping about. Even his dorkiest of grins paled in comparison to the one spread across his face now. She swore she even saw a shimmer of drool trailing down his cheek.

"Alright, Zealous Boy, I think it's time to calm down a little," Katara got up from where she'd been seated and knelt next to Aang, gently taking his hand and easing him up into a sitting position. His eyes were absolutely wild, the pupils increased in size, making him look almost like a human Momo. It was a little creepy how intently they peered at her as she, with motherly-like tenderness, wiped away a trail of saliva from his chin with her shirt. "Honestly...Sokka has a really twisted sense of humor..."

She finished the rather messy task and began to remove her hand. It was stopped short by Aang's hand, which he laid atop her's and pressed back against his cheek.

"Um...Aang, what're you...?"

He was leaning towards her, his grey eyes affixed onto her's.

"Katara..." he said softly, his expression a sort of crazed endearment. Katara drew back a bit. This was just getting weirder and weirder...

"You know, you're really pretty..."

"Um...thank you..." she tried to scoot away, but ended up flat on her back. Aang was now on her stomach, ignoring all personal boundaries in his state of free mind. His face was drawing ever closer to her's, his hot, moist breaths brushing against her neck. A series of pins and needles crawled up her spine and the brightest blush to ever come across her face burned her cheeks. This was so intensely awkward, words didn't even begin to cover it.

"I've had something I've wanted to say to you for a long time."

"Could you possibly tell me after kindly getting off my stomach?" she asked, her voice quavering more than she would've liked.

"I wanted you to know..." his lips were only a few inches from hers. The slight tang of cactus juice touched her tongue as it left Aang's mouth. Her own breaths were very slight. Sure, they'd kissed before...but there were circumstances! They were just friends!

"I love..."

This was it...her heart was pounding against her chest and her face, if at all possible, was growing redder and redder. But something else besides awkwardness was growing within her. Maybe...just maybe...excitement?

He spoke the next words in a voice barely above a whisper, "...your hair loopies."

WHAT?!

Aang proceeded to cackle drunkenly at what he thought must've been a very humorous joke. Katara glared at the younger boy, wondering when he'd snap out of this. She missed the more sensible Aang, the one who actually had some sense of restraint. Without really shoving him, she pushed him back from her face, annoyed with the smell of his breath and the spray spittle produced by his jovial laugh.

Now up in a sitting position again, she wiped off the small droplets from her face, while Aang continued to laugh abrasively. How utterly embarrassing...she'd gotten all worked up over a comment on her hairstyle. But then, a kiss from Aang under the influence wouldn't exactly mean anything...so there was no real reason to feel so disappointed, she reasoned to herself.

Casting Aang a withered look as he carried on his fit of laughter, she mumbled, "Yes, Aang, very funny. Don't ever do that aga–"

Her sentence was cut short by what she'd so fervently prepared for earlier. Aang gave her a sloppy, rather messy kiss straight on the lips. Katara, completely taken aback, only watched in surprise. When he broke off the kiss, her lips were quite wet, and her eyes still wide. Aang only beamed like an oblivious psychopath.

"Happy birthday, Hair Loopy!" he cheered, waving his arms wildly.

With that, he flopped back and rolled around the grass, further messing up his ensemble. As for Katara, she remained still, lost in stupor.