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“Knock knock!” The sun was setting as Moomintroll announced his presence, miming a paw knocking against the flaps of Snufkin’s tent. The mumrik inside poked his head out briefly, offering a dazzling smile that caught Moomintroll’s breath.
“Ah, Moomintroll! Come in, come in.”
“Snufkin! I was just wondering if—” Following his friend inside the small space, Moomintroll started on the reason for his visit, but something caught his attention before he could get to the point. “Hey, is that my bark boat?”
The little boat was neatly tucked against Snufkin’s bedroll. Moomintroll would recognise it anywhere.
Snufkin didn’t turn to face him. “Hm?”
“Right there.”
“Oh. Yes, well, I didn’t want it to go to waste.” Unable to pretend any longer, Snufkin turned, offering a sheepish smile. “One never knows when one might have need of a boat.”
“Hardly big enough for your big toe, though, is it?” Moomintroll teased.
“Perhaps. Still, you never know. Maybe one day I’ll be cursed tiny.”
“I hope not!” Then again, a pocket-sized Snufkin would be adorable…
“I also hope not,” Snufkin said seriously. “I would never make it back in time for spring then.”
Any fantasy brewing in Moomintroll’s mind died before it could fully form. “We can’t have that.”
“No, we can’t.”
The pair shared a small smile, then staring down at the bark boat again, Moomintroll hummed. “Maybe you could save it for Too-Ticky’s invisible shrews in case of another flood?”
“Now there’s an idea. Hm, you know who else is small enough?”
“Who?”
“Little My. Perhaps we could send her off downstream for some peace and quiet?” Snufkin gave a devilish grin, and Moomintroll couldn’t help but giggle.
“If only that would work. She’d be back before you knew it—”
“Louder than ever—”
“And hellbent on revenge!”
“Let her try,” Snufkin said. “I don’t fear Little My.”
“I do,” Moomintroll confessed. The little mymble was terrifying, and Moomintroll had been on the receiving end of her sharp teeth enough to remember the sting.
“Don't you worry. I shall protect you.”
“My hero!”
Snufkin looked pleased with Moomintroll’s dramatics. “Little mymble’s shall not prevail while I’m around,” he promised playfully.
As their laughter died down, a comfortable silence fell upon them. Moomintroll smiled at his friend but couldn’t help his attention being drawn back to the bark boat as if magnetised.
“…Hey, Snufkin?”
“Yes, Moomintroll?”
“Why’d you really keep the bark boat?”
Snufkin hesitated for only a moment before he said, “It reminded me of you.”
“It did?”
“Yes. Is that so surprising?”
“Well, yeah, a bit. You don’t usually like belongings.”
“I don’t like unnecessary belongings,” Snufkin corrected. He leaned over and picked up the boat, holding it up for Moomintroll to see. “This is necessary.”
“Oh.” Moomintroll blushed a bright pink. Snufkin tugged his hat down at the sight of it to hide his smile. “You know… I always made bark boats for Snorkmaiden as a sign of love.”
Snufkin fiddled with the little boat in his paws, his attention quite consumed with it. “Is that so?”
“She didn’t like them. Said they weren’t romantic.”
“Her loss, I suppose.”
“Yeah.”
“Perhaps it was the sign you needed that you weren’t compatible?”
“Well, I mean, there were plenty of those.” Moomintroll chuckled nervously.
“Quite.”
“We’re better off now. As friends.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I mean—so long as you’re happy. Both of you, of course.”
“Of course,” Moomintroll repeated.
There was another short silence; the only sound Moomintroll could hear was the thumping of his erratic heart. Then, when he worried it might race so fast it exploded from his chest, Snufkin spoke again: “What did you do with them?”
“With what?”
“The bark boats that you made.”
“Oh! Right, yeah. I sailed them down the river.” Moomintroll hesitated momentarily, glancing at Snufkin before taking a deep breath. He could be brave. He would be brave! They were clearly having a moment, after all. Moomintroll didn’t want to waste it, even if he was terrified. “Actually… If I’m honest, Snufkin, I, uh, always kind of hoped they’d, maybe, y’know, reach… you.” Moomintroll glanced shyly at Snufkin, but with his chin down, hat hiding his face, it was impossible to gauge his reaction.
Moomintroll’s heart was pounding, thumping in his chest like it really did want to escape the cage his ribs trapped it in.
Had he just made a massive mistake?
What if—Oh no, what if—!
…What if Snufkin ran away?
“Like this one, you mean?” Snufkin asked quietly, holding up the bark boat again. His little fingers were wrapped tightly around it, and Moomintroll wondered if it was to hide the shake of his paws. His own were certainly trembling like anything. He balled them into fists.
Snufkin wasn’t running, though. That was a good sign.
“Yes, exactly like that one,” Moomintroll said quietly, his mouth rather dry.
“Good,” Snufkin murmured. He swallowed loudly and repeated, “Good. Then, I shall treasure it always.”
It was as if Moomintroll’s thumping heart stopped quite suddenly. His breath caught, and he smacked his lips nervously. “You… you will?”
“Of course.”
“Then it’s yours,” Moomintroll said in one breath.
Snufkin looked up briefly, his face adorably flushed. His eyes locked on Moomintroll’s for the briefest of seconds before he dropped his head again. “Mumriks are finicky creatures, you know.”
“I know.”
“More trouble than they’re worth.”
“Now, I don’t know about that.”
“Troublesome, too,” Snufkin said.
“A little trouble keeps things exciting.”
So quietly that Moomintroll’s ears twitched, straining to hear it, Snufkin asked, “…What if I break it?”
As if he could ever. “I trust you.”
“You really shouldn’t,” Snufkin mumbled.
“You don’t want me to?”
“No, I do. I just don’t think I’m the best option for keeping your… boat safe.”
“I disagree. I think you’re the very best option. The only option, really,” Moomintroll said. He wished he could reach out and push the rim of Snufkin’s hat up so they could lock eyes again. He’d love to gaze into that beautiful brown pair right about now. He didn’t want to frighten Snufkin off, though. Not when this conversation was so very long overdue.
“The only one?”
“I think you always have been,” Moomintroll admitted softly.
“Oh.”
“So, will you keep hold of it for me?”
There was a little jolt as Snufkin moved his head in a gentle nod. “…If you want me to.”
“I do. Do you?”
“Yes. Yes, I do believe I do.” Snufkin raised his head a little, just enough for Moomintroll to see how his lips curled into the slightest hint of a smile.
“Phew. Well, that’s a relief,” Moomintroll said jokingly, though it was no joke. For a moment there, he’d been truly terrified, his fear greater than that time he’d been afraid of the Groke.
He couldn’t believe they’d had this talk.
He couldn’t believe it had gone well.
“I promise I’ll keep it safe,” Snufkin said, cradling the boat to his chest. Like it was precious. Like he wanted to keep it close, always.
“There’s no one I trust with it more,” Moomintroll said, unable to contain his smile. They were baby steps, sure, but Moomintroll couldn’t be happier. Snufkin wanted to keep his bark boat and treasure it always.
Always!
There was no one Moomintroll would rather leave it with.