✨Requested by Tridnaexo✨
• • • • •He was doing it again.
The two of you were trying to figure out what shapes to make chocolate into – chocolate bars were getting boring, according to Willy – but your eccentric boss was watching you more than he was working. He had been doing that a lot lately. You and Willy Wonka had made such a good team when you were first hired, but now, he seemed...distracted. You had thought about bringing it up, to see if there was anything wrong, but quickly dismissed the idea every time it entered your head. Willy was a very private man and you assumed any attempt at talking to him would quickly get shut down.
But today, you wondered if you might be wrong. Perhaps he would be willing to open up if given the chance. He had lived a very isolated life, and his social graces were nonexistent. Maybe he wanted – needed – somebody to talk to, but just didn't know how.
You looked over to him and he quickly averted his eyes, busying himself with something. He always got flustered when you caught him staring and you couldn't help but think how cute it was.
"Is something wrong, Mr. Wonka?" You asked.
"Hm? Ah...no. Nope. No, nothing's wrong," he answered in that clipped tone. "Why, should there be?"
"No, it's just... You seem distracted lately, that's all."
"Distracted?" He let out a nervous little giggle. "I'm not distracted. In fact, I'm focused. Very, very focused. What do you think about hexagons?"
"Yeah, I...think they're fine." You waved a hand. "You're deflecting."
"I am?" His head tilted quizzically to the side. "What's that?"
"We both know you know what it means," you said.
Upset that he had been caught in another attempt to deflect, Willy quickly fell silent, gloved hands fidgeting nervously with each other. You stood from your station and approached where he was sitting at another table. You didn't touch him, but he flinched as if you had.
"What's wrong, Mr. Wonka?" You asked in a gentle tone. "It's clear there's something bothering you."
"Nothing's bothering me," he responded, just a little too fast. "I'm fine. Right as rain. Always."
Slowly, you lowered yourself to your knees beside his chair so you could be more level with him. He glanced at you from the corner of his eye before quickly looking away.
"We've been working together for a while, long enough for me to know you're acting different," you said. "If something's wrong or if I'm not doing my job right, you can tell me."
Willy shook his head. "No, no, you're...perfect at your job."
"Then what is it?" You pressed. "If there's anything I can do to help...whatever it is that's going on, then--"
"Shush up!" He suddenly snapped, without venom, followed by a near hysterical giggle he couldn't seem to contain. He pushed himself back from the table and hopped to his feet, hurriedly stalking away from you. Of course, you stubbornly followed.
"Mr. Wonka, what is the matter? Please, just talk to me!"
However, it was clear Willy wasn't going to stop. Frustrated, you finally reached out and grabbed his arm, just to get him to stop. He gasped as if you had burned him, so you immediately let go, but at least now, he was no longer running away.
"Look, if you want me to leave, I'll leave, but at least give me a chance to help. Give yourself a chance to be helped," you said to him.
It was clear your words had gotten through to Willy, but the man still looked so scared. Gaze fixed firmly on the floor, his fingers feverishly gripped the hem of his coat, as if he were hoping he could squeeze the anxiety away. Considering he wasn't immediately fleeing, you figured there must be something Willy wanted to say.
"I...don't want you to leave," he finally said in a tiny voice.
You tried to ignore the strange flutter you felt in your chest at his words. "Okay. Is there something you do want?"
Again, Willy was silent for a long moment, hands endlessly fidgeting with his coat. With his head tilted down, the brim of his hat covered his eyes so you couldn't get a read on what he was thinking.
"I...I want you to stay," he said and his voice was trembling terribly. "I want you to...to be more than...just my assistant..."
Your heart seemed to skip a beat. Surely he couldn't be saying what you thought he was...?
"Because you're sweet. Like chocolate," he was continuing. "And I didn't think a person could be like that. I didn't think a person could make me feel so...happy. Because the only thing that's ever made me happy was making candy, but then you made me happy, too, and I got confused and I thought maybe I was just eating too much chocolate because chocolate can trigger the release of endorphins that can make you feel like you're in love and I thought that--"
He was rambling now. You lightly touched his hand and that was quick to snap him out of it, his eyes shooting up to finally meet yours. You felt your face heat up as you realized you still hadn't responded to his confession. Awkwardly, you cleared your throat.
"Mr. Wonka... Willy. I would be happy to stay and...and be more than just your assistant," you told him, breathless with joy.
The smile on Willy Wonka's face was small and timid, but so, so genuine. You felt his gloved fingers gently entwine with yours and you couldn't help but smile in return. Considering how much of a no-no touch seemed to be with him, you figured he must already care a lot about you to be holding hands. The thought made you feel so delightfully fuzzy inside.
"Well...this isn't the development I expected, considering what we were working on," you chuckled.
Willy blinked. "Oh. Right. I...forgot we were working on something."
"Should we get back to that or...?"
"Well... We probably should." And just like that, he was already lighting up with new ideas. "What are your thoughts on trapezoids?"
You were unable to fight back a smile as he led you back over to the workstations, brimming with excitement like a, well...a kid in a candy store. Just like that, things were continuing on as normal. This normal, however, you thought was decidedly better than the last normal, with Willy Wonka holding your hand and gazing lovingly at you with those beautiful violet eyes.
This was definitely a normal you could grow to love.
------------------------------------------------------------
ahhh another one done! i hope y'all like it!willy wonka is very fun to write because he's so unique
him and tarrant both are always challenging, but so fun!
i love the candyman a lot in case you couldn't tell lol so i hope this oneshot captured his behaviour well!
lemme know your thoughts in the comments! i always love hearing from you guys💕☺️💕
YOU ARE READING
Johnny Depp Character Imagines
Fanfiction• look in my eyes, i will never desert you • A collection of oneshots starring you and your favourite Johnny Depp characters! [REQUESTS OPEN]