#mind-meld

what if the first time Keith saw a Hippo was when Shiro took him to the zoo for the day. Imagine the team are mind-melding and they have to share a happy memory and Shiro picks this one which of course makes Keith all flustered 

“Keith we’re here!: Shiro announced as he parked the car into the practically empty parking lot.

Keith sighs and dramatically rolls his eyes, “Shiro I told you I didn't need you to take me out, I’m fine just staying at the Garrison for the holidays.” 

“Keith, I bet you’ll have fun. Anyway all your classmates have gone home to spend time with their families and since I’m staying too I though this would be a great idea.” 

Keith huffs again, “fine, but I hate the zoo. I can see a lion on the internet if I wanted to.” 

the day passes averagely, though he wouldn't admit it Keith was having a nice time. it had been awhile since he was anywhere other than the Garrison campus. If he had to be stuck with somebody for an entire day he was glad it was shiro, practically the only person he spoke to.

They had just finished watching the elephants during their feeding hour and we’re trying to find their way towards the Reptiles when Shiro spotted an ice cream stand.

“Keith, you wanna an ice cream cone?” Shiro says already walking over to the stand. 

“uhh sure, just not a mint one.” Keith called to his back.

Shiro clutches the ice cream cones in his hands after paying and walks back to where he left Keith, only for Keith to longer be there.

“Keith?” Shiro calls while scanning the crowd of people. 

it took Shiro 5 minutes to locate Keith who had wondered off lazily. He had both hands resting against a think plane of glass. on the other side was an enclosure was a huge body of water with no animals anywhere to be seen. 

“Keith? you okay?” Shiro asked passing him an ice cream which Keith took without removing his eyes from the water. “what are we looking at?”

keith grabbed his arm and pulled him closer, “shhhhh, look.”

Shiro had to squint his eyes before he noticed grey blobs half submerged within the water, Hippos?

“You mean the Hippos?” Shiro questioned.

keith was enamored, hos gaze never wavering from the animals. “just watch, it’ll do it again soon.”

It took 10 minutes but a hippos on the far side slowly opened its mouth only to closed it again returning to laying about.  Keith was staring wide eyed at the hippo like it had grown an extra head. 

“isn't it cool? did you see it?” Keith asked in a whispered tone, smiling up at shiro.

“The hippo moving? yeah, pretty cool right?” shiro smiled, amused by Keith’s curiosity over what he deemed to be a relatively boring animal to watch. “So you really like them huh? you never told me that.”

“I've never seen one before. I’ve heard about them before but I've never seen one in real life.” Keith confessed.