Soft
Raf and Miko had a love of hitting up the local thrift store, for coming up with one of a kind accessories by Miko. And combating the fact that Raf's family had a lot of kids and not a lot of money. Sam tagged along to be the adult voice of reason. Some of the time after all there was some choice things to be found. Found that's what they loved doing even when they didn't buy anything. Trips were kept to "somebody needs…." That didn't mean they each couldn't haul home an extra item.
On one of those trips Raf had found a pathetic looking gray donkey with a jaunty pink bow around its tail. Buried in the bin of plush critters, it seemed out of place amidst the happier occupants. It just begged for a passerby to pick it up. Big droopy ears and velvety fur closed the deal. He had proudly presented Sam with it on the ride home. Saying the older boy had to make up a story about it per their rule of doing so for any extra item they walked out with. Be it bought specifically for them or gifted.
Truth be told Sam was glad to accept the donkey, he hadn't meant to make it a permeant part of his half of the bed. Optimus knew it was there but chose not to say anything lest he embarrass his bonded. Human younglings could be so bizarre about such things and frankly he had no idea why. If one lived as long as they did, finding comfort in whatever form wouldn't have been frowned upon.
It helped the Elder realized when he arrived home late to find the boy clutching the plush animal as if his life depended on it. Sam was sprawled on the living room couch amid a pile of blankets and pillows. Sighing at the current state he dissolved his dress blues exchanging them for his house attire. That done he slowly moved Sam and blankets around till he was sitting behind him. All the while needling at their bond to let him know he was present. Least the sudden feeling of being held sent him even further into his own head space. Fresh laundry out of the dryer warmth engulfed him and Sam leaned backwards trustingly. Said donkey never left his arms and he should have felt ashamed. Instead he felt so good to think otherwise. True to his word about not mentioning anything the Elder simply folded his large frame onto the couch. A heavy Pendleton blanket and a mound of fluffy pillows arranged for maximum comfort the two drifted off to sleep. One sad little donkey was quite content in the boys arms.
Notes:
-Raf and Miko are taken from Transformers Prime
-Anyone know who the donkey is?
-It's Eeyore who is voiced by Peter Cullen aka Optimus Prime.