Chapter Text
Willy Wonka was a brilliant man. He owned the world’s largest chocolate factory and created new types of flavors every single year. Just 2 months ago, he issued a contest around the globe. 5 golden tickets were hidden inside 5 Wonka Bars. Whoever found them got to tour his factory and win the best prize of all time. To become his heir.
Only one child was worth that prize. Charlie Bucket.
Wonka knew from the very beginning that Charlie was the perfect fit. He was a poor boy who was given little food and barely had enough for clean clothes. Yet even though the world was cruel to him, he’d never been cruel to the world. He followed all his rules and stayed by his grandfather’s side, keeping his curiosity to a minimum even though Wonka knew he wanted to explore more.
When Wonka told Charlie he won the prize, he expected Charlie to have the same curious wonder as before. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the case.
While Charlie was grateful that he and his family got to live in the factory forever, he wasn’t so sure about being an heir to the Wonka throne. It didn’t help when his grandfather, Grandpa Joe, had fallen ill after they’d moved in. The poor old man had reached his limit, pushing himself to go on the tour with Charlie that day. In the end, it pushed him too far.
The old man died with a smile on his face, surrounded by the people he loved and cherished most. Before he passed, he made Wonka promise to take care of Charlie. Wonka didn’t need to be told twice.
After his death, Charlie became quiet and distant. Wonka tried to get him to take his role as the heir seriously, but Charlie refused to acknowledge the subject, saying he was either too tired or had to help his parents with chores.
Eventually, the chocolatier left him alone to grieve, knowing he couldn’t stop him from feeling this way.
Now, it was late at night, and the chocolate maker was in his office, skimming through old documents. Wonka rubbed his eyes and checked his watch. It was ten past one in the morning. He needed sleep.
With a tired grunt, Wonka rose from his chair with a huge stretch. “Tomorrow. I’ll do this tomorrow.”
Wonka makes his way down the hallway to his quarters, his eyes already beginning to close. “Just a few more strides, Willy. You can do it.” He tells himself before reaching his destination. His hand was inches from the doorknob when he began to hear sobbing coming from his room. With a raised brow, the chocolatier quietly opened the door and what he saw before him, broke his heart.
There was Charlie, hidden under the man’s large covers on his bed. He could see the covers hitching a little from the boy’s muffled cries. He had a feeling he knew why he was here.
Wonka closed the door back as softly as possible so as not to startle him. “Charlie?” As soon as he said his name, Charlie flinched and froze, covering his mouth so as not to make another sound. Wonka sighs and sits on the bed. “Charlie, I know it’s you. Wanna tell me why you’re here?” he asked as Charlie refused to respond. Wonka slowly lifted the covers to reveal the little boy’s tear-soaked face. “Hey, little cocoa bean, what’s wrong?” he asked once more, wiping away his tears.
Cocoa bean was a nickname he’d given to Charlie when he found him shoving a few of them in his mouth after growing impatient with an experiment that wasn’t ready yet. Wonka would always remind him of that day just to get a little smile on his face.
Charlie gulped, his lips beginning to quiver slightly. “I-I had a b-b-bad d-dream.”
“You did? Oh, you poor thing. C’mere.” The chocolatier lifted the boy in his arms, readjusting himself so that they were both lying in the bed with Charlie resting his head on his chest. “What happened? Come on, you can tell Mr. Wonka.” Wonka says as Charlie shook his head. Fair enough.
The two lay in the bed silently as Wonka gets an idea on how to cheer him up. “Hey, I got a fun game.” Charlie lifted his head at the sudden declaration. “A game?”
“No, a fun game,” Wonka replied, sitting up a little so his back was propped on the bed. “All you have to do is guess where I am.”
“Huh?” Charlie merely says as the chocolatier turns him around, so his back is to his chest. “It’s a fun game, my dad and I played together when I was about your age. It’ll take your mind off the bad dream~” Charlie wasn’t sure if he wanted to play, but he certainly didn’t wanna think about the nightmare either. After Charlie gave him a small nod, Wonka smiled and covered the boy’s eyes. “Now, guess where I am.”
“Um…behind me?” Charlie answered as he felt five fingers scribbling his right side. The boy squeaked and giggled, the tickling sensation lasting only for a second. “Nope. I’m on your right side, silly.” Even though Charlie couldn’t see him, he could tell Wonka was smirking. “Now, where am I now?” Charlie chuckles when he feels his mentor’s fingers spidering down his leg. “My leg.”
“Nu uh.” Charlie squeaked once more when the man dipped his hand under the boy’s knee and squeezed. “I’m under your right knee.”
“Stop!” Charlie cried with laughter, attempting to bend his knee, but Wonka wasn’t having it. He kept squeezing Charlie’s knee before switching hands, his right one now covering Charlie’s eyes.
“Where’d I go now?” Charlie giggled, feeling Wonka’s hand crawling up his left side. “Left side. Left side.”
“Close,” Wonka replied before shooting his hand up Charlie’s armpit. “I’m in your sweaty, stinky little left armpit.”
“Willy!” Charlie bawled with laughter as he squirmed in his hold, trying to push his hand away. Wonka laughed along with him, darting his hand under Charlie’s pajama shirt. “Oh, what’s under here?”
“Don’t!” Charlie begged as the chocolatier abandoned his eyes and grabbed both of Charlie’s wrists in one hand, while the other crawled on his belly. The tickling grew worse when Wonka’s cool hand made contact with his warm belly. “Is that a…” Wonka trailed off, viciously rubbing his palm over the boy’s stomach, making him giggle. “Yep, this is a very ticklish belly. A super-duper ticklish belly.” Charlie tried to lean forward to curl himself into a ball, but Wonka only held him a bit tighter. “Now, which spot is the most ticklish, I wonder?”
“Please, Willy, don’t!” Wonka smirked and gave the laughing boy a few pokes. “Is it here? Here? Over here?” All the spots made Charlie laugh with bliss, but Wonka had one more to try. “What about this one?” Charlie felt his finger circling his most ticklish spot. His belly button. The poor boy shook his head. “Please don’t do it.”
“I’m gonna do it.”
“No.”
“I’m gonna tickle it.”
“No!”
“I’m gonna gitchy gitchy getcha. Right. Here.”
“Please!” Charlie begged for a final time as Wonka pretended to think. “Okay, I won’t do it.” Charlie couldn’t believe it. He actually declined. The boy leaned further onto the man’s chest, breathing a sigh of relief. But little did he know that one should never celebrate too early at the hands of an enemy.
“…now I’ll do it.” Before Charlie knew it, the chocolatier had dipped his finger into his navel, swirling it around like a mixing bowl. Charlie laughed so loud it was a miracle he didn’t wake anyone up. “WONKAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Wonka laughed, releasing Charlie’s wrist, watching him fail to push his finger away. “What’s wrong, little cocoa bean? Can’t move my finger?”
“Make it stop!” Charlie laughed as Wonka finally released his finger, allowing Charlie a moment to breathe.
Wonka engulfed the boy in a huge hug, rubbing his nose against his. “Feel better?” Charlie blushed and nodded. “Good cause if you didn’t, I was gonna give your cutesy little feet a tickle.” To prove his point, Wonka scribbled on Charlie’s foot, making the boy giggle.
Wonka rolled over on his side, taking Charlie with him. “So, do you wanna stay here for the night, or do you want me to get your mother?” Charlie shook his head, hugging his mentor. “I wanna stay with you. Please.” Wonka’s heart crumbled when Charlie gave him his best eyes. How could he say no to that? “Alright, alright. One night.” Charlie cheered as Wonka rolled his eyes. “Now sleep, little cocoa bean. We have a big day tomorrow.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I got a surprise for ya.” Charlie smiled so brightly that Wonka thought it lit the whole room. “Tell me. Tell me. Tell me.” Charlie chanted as Wonka poked his belly once more. “Never. You’ll find out tomorrow.” Charlie giggles, snuggling against his mentor. “Thank you, Willy.” He whispers before letting out a deep yawn and falling asleep. The chocolatier smiled, giving him a soft kiss on his cheek. “You’re welcome, my little cocoa bean.”