My Lost Starshine (Willy Wonka x Reader)(2005)

11

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I watched the last echoes of the Oompa-Loompas' song fade into the sugar-grass, still grinning like a fool. 

Their voices always did that to me—lifted something inside, reminded me why I'd traded everything for this strange, sweet life. 

But today the grin felt different. Sharper. 

Because she was here, standing close enough that I could smell the faint vanilla on her skin, and every time our eyes met it felt like the factory itself was holding its breath.

"I don't say, that all seemed rather rehearsed," Mr. Salt muttered, arms folded tight across his chest.

"Like they knew it was gonna happen," Mike added, that irritating little smirk on his face.

I slipped my arm from around Y/n's shoulders—reluctantly—and waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, poppycock."

She chuckled beside me, soft and knowing, and the sound sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. I caught her eye and smirked back. 

The parents were starting to notice—making faces, exchanging glances. Violet's mother raised one perfectly plucked eyebrow and stared at Y/n like she was trying to solve an unpleasant puzzle. 

Let them stare. I didn't care. Not one bit.

Mrs. Gloop's voice cracked through the moment, shrill and desperate. "Where is my son? Where does that pipe go to?"

I sighed, long and theatrical, and shot Y/n a look. She rolled her eyes in perfect sync with my thoughts—Get her the hell out of here.

"That pipe," I said, turning to the frantic woman, "just so happens to lead directly to the room where I make delicious strawberry-flavored, chocolate-coated fudge."

Her eyes widened to saucers. "He will be made into strawberry-flavored, chocolate-coated fudge? They'll be selling him by the pound all over the world?"

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing outright. Y/n's shoulders shook beside me; she was holding it in too. 

I flicked my gaze to her—Keep it together, starshine—and she pressed her lips tight, eyes sparkling with mischief.

"No," I said gravely. "I wouldn't allow it. The taste would be terrible. Can you imagine Augustus-flavored, chocolate-coated Gloop? Ew. No one would buy it."

Charlie let out a startled giggle. Y/n covered her mouth, but the corners of her eyes crinkled. I loved that sound—her quiet, delighted laughter. 

It was the same one she'd given me years ago when we'd hidden under that cherry tree and I'd told her my first truly terrible candy pun.

I turned to the nearest Oompa-Loompa, who was already watching me expectantly.

"I want you to take Mrs. Gloop up to the Fudge Room. Okay? Help her find her son. Take a long stick and start poking around in the big chocolate-mixing barrel. Okay?"

The little worker nodded briskly and gestured for the distraught mother to follow. They disappeared down a winding path of peppermint paving stones, and I offered Y/n my arm without a second thought.

She took it immediately, fingers curling around my elbow with that easy familiarity that still made my chest ache. I leaned in just enough to murmur, "You're enjoying this far too much."

She tilted her head, smiling up at me. "Only because you're enjoying it more."

Charlie's small voice piped up from her other side. "Mr. Wonka?"