One day in the factory, Charlie didn't know what happened, but he felt the atmosphere sort of...shift.
Wonka had just returned from his regular doctor's appointment, and when Charlie asked how it went, Wonka replied with. "Long. Heh," and ran off into his office.
The vague answer worried him, and he sought Wonka out again later that day. "Mr. Wonka, is everything alright?" Charlie asked. "You've been quite distant today."
Wonka paused and then sighed, setting down his pen. "Charlie...you're my heir, and I realize that it is my responsibility to share my health with you, of all people. I don't want you to worry, at least for now, but they found a small cancer tumor in me."
Charlie's stomach dropped and he gasped, tears filling his eyes. "No," he said, shaking his head and backing up. "No!"
"Charlie!" Wonka called after him, but Charlie was already running. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he ran to the Chocolate Room. It was happening again. At fourteen, he'd lost Grandpa Joe, and it had been one of the hardest things Charlie had ever had to deal with - and that was saying a lot. Wonka was there for him the entire time, and they grew closer still, bonding over the heartbreak of losing family.
That period of his life had been dark, yes, but it was also what caused Charlie to fall in love with Wonka. And now he was losing him, too.
Willy found Charlie some time later still in the Chocolate Room, his face buried in his knees. It broke Willy's heart to see him like that, and he sat down on the edible grass beside his heir. "You know, I plan to be around for a super duper long time," Willy reassured him.
Charlie lifted his face, which was streaked with tears. He wiped them away and sniffled, shifting closer to Willy and resting his head against his shoulder. Willy felt something stir inside him. "Are you in pain?" Charlie asked, his voice thick with tears.
"No, my dear boy." Willy wrapped an arm around his shoulders, holding Charlie close. He felt the boy sigh in relief against him, and smiled. "Thank you for being worried, though you really don't have to be. I'm getting surgery soon to get it removed."
"I'll take care of the factory while you're in the hospital," Charlie said. "But you will come back, right?"
Willy's eyes widened. "Of course! You don't get this factory all to yourself this soon, silly," he said, laughing.
Charlie didn't join in. "I care about you more than I care about the factory," he blurted out. It was bold, sure, but it had to be said, and life was too short.
Willy's mouth opened, but he didn't say anything. He sat there in shock, and didn't move when Charlie leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.
The older man froze under Charlie's touch, his heir's lips moving against his own. Charlie's tongue licked his bottom lip, and Willy groaned. A warm, wet tongue licked his own and Willy felt Charlie's hands sliding into his hair. He moaned at the fingers running through it. Charlie's body pressed against his, arms looped around his neck, and they fell over backwards. Willy chuckled into his mouth, wrapping his arms around the boy.
When they stopped kissing, Charlie snuggled against him, resting his head on Willy's chest. Willy stroked the boy's hair, wondering how he had gotten so lucky. "Don't leave me," Charlie murmured, tucking his head under Willy's chin.
"Never," Willy promised, holding him tight.