So, surprising turn of events, Zeb's chapter is actually longer than Hera's. Weird, because I can never figure out how to write Zeb. Kanan and Hera no problem, but something about our favorite definitelynotChewie figure just makes it difficult for me to get into his head.

Disclaimer: Again, kinda obvious I don't own Rebels, because Disney knows how to write Zeb. On the other hand, I... yeah. Floundering in the corner.

The third bond for the both of them had come in the form of a moping purple lasat who'd had just one too many drinks at the Joe's Diner.

They'd been heading in to acquire some food rations and such when Kanan had noticed him sitting in one of the corner booths, his downcast eyes glaring into the cup that seemed entirely too small for his gargantuan hand. There had been a moment where Kanan had simply stared over at him, eyebrows crinkled in a slight, thoughtful frown, and then he'd told Hera to carry on without him for a little bit.

She hadn't seen the lasat at first, only noticing him when Kanan had headed over to his booth. But as soon as she did, Hera knew that her partner wouldn't be accompanying her for their brief supply run. And that was fine with her, in just this one instance.

A lasat was a rare sight in those days- still was, actually. After Lasan was all but obliterated by the Empire, any survivor was doing just that- surviving. They were staying alive, but who could honestly say that they were living? Their entire way of life, their culture and their families, had been eradicated by the Empire.

Just like the Jedi.

One survivor drawn to another, Hera let Kanan talk to the lasat in the booth on his own, moving to collect food supplies from Joe.

Kanan had told her later that he had offered absolutely no words of fake sympathy. Telling him that everything would work out in the end would do absolutely nothing- because it wouldn't just work out in the end. Kanan had had to change and adapt and work through his loss, and he had said that much to the lasat. Hera had approved, though only after ensuring that Kanan hadn't said anything to reveal his Jedi status. He had assured her that he had said nothing of the sort, and that Zeb- that was his name -was probably too deep in his drink to put together the pieces of what he had revealed.

And after that, they'd gone to store their food stuffs and move on to their next target. The thing was, Kanan had apparently let in on too much after all, because Zeb had discretely followed them, helping to kick Imperial butts when they'd wandered into a patrol. He'd demonstrated an exceptional use of a Bo-Rifle, surprising both herself and Kanan, who had both assumed he wouldn't be anywhere near as capable as he was, especially with the amount of drink he'd supposedly consumed.

Zeb had glanced at Hera and then sighed, deactivating his rifle, and the spoke in a gravelly and not at all slurred voice- "If this guy's your partner, you're gonna need help teaching him to keep his trap shut."

Hera had quickly turn a raised eyebrow to Kanan, who shrugged with a kind of wary smile as Zeb had continued on.

"If I was anyone else, I would be high-tailing it to the nearest Imperial facility to report a couple of insurgents I'd stumbled on." Hera had taken the initiative then, because she hadn't really been getting any bad vibes off of this lasat- who obviously wasn't as deep in his cups as they'd both assumed. That or he had a rather high alcohol tolerance- it varied from species to species.

"But since we just witnessed you take down nearly a whole squad of troopers with us, I'm guessing that's not the case."

Zeb had lifted the corner of his upper lip, showing one of his canines in a half-feral grin. "You can bet on it. Besides... you said you have to work in order to start moving again- and I think bashing in a couple Imperials with you lot counts." He'd said while looking directly at Kanan. Hera's upper lip had twitched as the Jedi'd frowned slightly, and she'd all but cemented their next crew member's initiation when she'd asked,

"Are you saying you want to join us?"

It was with a snort that their fourth crew member had acknowledged her question. "And bash the heads of these bucket-wearers with the likes of you two?

"...Count me in."

The addition of a well-trained, muscly warrior, of course, changed things. For one, they had significantly more fire-power than just the three of them. And also... they weren't alone.

Now that there was more on-board to look after than just herself, Kanan and Chopper, things were considerably more lively. For one, whenever the Lasat was in the room with Chopper, things got... heated. The little astromech was necessary to keep the Ghost operating and Zeb was a fully functional member of their crew- and for those reasons, neither one was allowed to kill the other.

That didn't stop Chop from zapping Zeb, or from the Lasat chasing the 'bucket of bolts' down the halls when he did. It had been quite a surprise to be rudely woken by her astromech screaming down the hall, Zeb's thundering footsteps right behind him.

But the most significant change, of course, was that Kanan had someone to relate to.

Hera had done what she could- and she knew the Jedi was eternally grateful for her involvement. And while her species was mostly considered slave material and treated as such in the Outer Rim, that didn't compare to having everyone she'd ever known wiped out and slaughtered. Zeb was someone Kanan could actually connect with on that level, someone who knew and shared his pain.

The two would often have in-depth discussions, able to understand one another more than someone else could because of their unique situations. Hera never heard them directly talk about 'their' slaughters, and she never felt the urge to. If they talked about such things, it was their business and their business alone. If they wanted to come to her for advice or consolation they would, something that had taken Kanan a while to figure out- though he could still be stubborn about it sometimes.

Nevertheless, she was content with letting them have their own private conversations. Hera would help Kanan with the issues that he needed her to help with, and he in turn was helping Zeb with matters that only they could really understand. It was a mutual agreement with the two, and Hera was all the more glad because of it.

Zeb had become an official member of their crew maybe two weeks after their initial meeting, when Kanan had trusted Zeb with the exact nature of his loss. That had been a big moment for him, Hera knew, to share his Jedi status with someone other than her. And she was happy for him to do so- because it meant that he was gradually adapting, opening up and letting others in.

She was happy, because he was helping her help him with his loneliness.