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

13

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I watched the last of the Oompa-Loompas roll Violet away like an oversized beach ball, her mother trailing behind in a cloud of shrieks and lavender perfume. 

The Juicing Room doors slid shut with a soft hiss. Silence settled over the Inventing Room—thick, sweet, and strangely final.

Only two left.

Well. One child and one woman who still made my heart do ridiculous somersaults every time she looked at me.

I turned, spreading my arms wide in that practiced way I'd perfected over years of being alone with my own inventions.

"On with the tour. There's still so much left to see." I glanced around at the empty space, then down at Charlie. "Now... how many children are left?"

Y/n's voice—soft, steady—answered before he could.

"Mr. Wonka... Charlie's the only one left now."

I blinked. Looked at the boy again—really looked. Those bright, honest eyes. That small, hopeful smile.

"You mean... you're the only one?"

"Yes," Charlie said simply.

I felt something bright and fizzy burst inside my chest.

"What happened to the others?" I asked, though I already knew. 

"Oh, my dear boy! That means you've won! Oh, I do congratulate you. I really do. I'm absolutely delighted." 

The words tumbled out faster than I could catch them. "I had a hunch right from the beginning. Well done. Now, we mustn't dilly or dally."

I clapped once, sharp and excited.

"We have an enormous number of things to do before the day's out. But luckily for us, we have the great glass elevator to speed things along—"

I walked straight into the closed door of the elevator.

Glass rang like a bell. I bounced back, hat tipping sideways. Y/n's chuckle—low, fond, familiar—cut through the embarrassment like sunlight.

"Come along now," she said, stepping forward to offer her hand.

I took it, letting her steady me as though I'd been the one knocked off balance. Her fingers were warm. Steady. Home.

"Let's speed things along," I said, pushing the door open with more flourish than necessary.

We stepped inside—Charlie first, then Y/n, then me. The interior glowed soft pink and gold, buttons glittering like sweets. I pressed one without looking.

"'Up and Out'?" Charlie read aloud, tilting his head. "What kind of room is that?"

"Hold on," I said.

Y/n pulled Charlie closer to her side. I caught the protective gesture and felt something tender twist behind my ribs. 

She trusted me—enough to bring her godson here, enough to stand beside me now—but I could see the flicker of nerves in her eyes.

The elevator lurched.

"Oh, my goodness," Y/n murmured.

"We're gonna need to go much faster," I said, voice rising with glee, "otherwise we'll just never break through."

"Break through what?" she asked, voice tight.

I grinned at her—wide, reckless, the same grin I'd given her the night we'd stolen candy under the cherry tree.