Zaunite reader x Heartslabyul
Request by anonymous: Maybe how about a headcanons with Yuu who is born and raised in Zaun? Most importantly how would cast reacts to Zaun's environment once Yuu trusts them enough to tell about it? (Or maybe cast would see for themselves somehow?)
Synopsis: You have always kept your past a secret, but as their relationships deepen, the truth about Zaun slowly unravels. A city of smog, struggle, and survival far from the world of NRC. How will their lover react to the harsh reality You once called home? And more importantly, can they bring comfort to the one who endured it all?
Gender neutral reader
Warnings: ⚠Mentions of poverty, crime, substance abuse (shimmer), survival struggles, and environmental pollution. The setting of Zaun includes themes of danger, societal disparity, and rough living conditions. Reader's past involves hardships, but the story focuses on comfort, understanding, and romance.⚠
Since you didn't specify her past,I'm just gonna assume that she's an orphan like 99% of the Zaunite cast.
Heartslabyul,Savanaclaw, Octavinelle,Scarabia Pomifiore, Ignihyde, Diasominia
Riddle Rosehearts
Riddle never imagined life could be anything but orderly. His world had always been one of rules and discipline, of neatly trimmed rose bushes and perfectly arranged tea parties. The idea of chaos, of living without a clear structure to follow, was something he had never truly comprehended,until you.
When you first mentioned Zaun, it was almost in passing, like it was just another place on a map. But as your words lingered, as you spoke of the smog-choked streets, the towering factories that never stopped churning, and the ever-present desperation that filled the air, Riddle realized that Zaun was not just a place. It was a battlefield, a world that had shaped you in ways he couldn’t yet understand.
At first, he didn’t know how to respond. The thought of you, his beloved, having to fight for survival in a place where lawlessness reigned,it was almost too much to bear. He had spent so much of his life believing that rules were what kept people safe, that strict order was the key to happiness. But your existence, your very survival, was proof that life didn’t always work that way. He wanted to understand, to know what it truly meant to have grown up in a place so vastly different from what he knew.
So when the opportunity arose, when he found himself in Zaun with you leading the way, Riddle braced himself for the unknown. Yet, no amount of mental preparation could have truly readied him for what he saw. The moment you stepped into the city, you seemed to melt into the shadows, walking with a confidence that only someone who had lived here could possess. Riddle, however, was rigid beside you, his crimson eyes darting around at the unfamiliar sights. The streets were narrow and winding, the air thick with the scent of chemicals and burning metal. People moved quickly, their faces guarded, their steps calculated. He had never felt so out of place.
You turned back to him, your expression softening at the sight of his furrowed brow. “It’s overwhelming, isn’t it?” you murmured, taking his hand. Riddle’s fingers twitched at the contact, his grip tightening as if he feared losing you in the crowd.
“This… this place…” he struggled to find the words, his voice uncharacteristically unsteady. “It’s nothing like I imagined.” He had expected disorder, but this was something else entirely. It was a world that thrived on resilience, where people didn’t wait for permission to live.
You gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I know it’s a lot. But this is home, Riddle. Or at least, it was.”
He swallowed thickly, his heart twisting at the thought. The idea that you had once walked these streets as a child, vulnerable and unprotected, sent a sharp pang through his chest. He had spent so much of his life believing that rules were what made a person strong. But now, seeing you move with unwavering certainty through a world so unforgiving, he realized that strength wasn’t always about following rules,it was about surviving in spite of them.
That night, when you finally led him somewhere quieter, somewhere safer, Riddle couldn’t stop the thoughts that swirled in his mind. You had spoken of Zaun with such ease, but now that he had seen it, truly seen it, he understood that it had shaped you in ways he had yet to comprehend. He lay beside you, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
“You’re thinking too much again,” you whispered, rolling over to face him. Your fingers found their way into his hair, combing through the soft strands in slow, comforting motions. Riddle stiffened at first, but slowly, his body relaxed under your touch.
“I just… I don’t understand how you do it,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “How you lived through all of that… how you still smile, still love despite everything.”
You gave him a small, knowing smile. “Because I had to. Because I wanted to. And because, no matter how hard life was, I knew there was something worth fighting for.”
Riddle turned to face you fully, his gaze searching yours for answers he wasn’t sure he’d ever find. “I don’t want you to carry this alone,” he murmured, his voice filled with unspoken promises. “You don’t have to anymore.”
Your heart ached at the sincerity in his eyes. You had spent so much of your life fending for yourself, believing that no one could truly understand the weight of your past. But here he was, holding you as if you were something fragile yet infinitely precious.
A small smile tugged at your lips. “I know,” you whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. “I have you now.”
And for the first time in a long while, the weight of Zaun’s past didn’t feel so heavy. Because with Riddle by your side, you finally felt like you had a place to rest. A place where you were safe.
Where you were loved.
Ace Trappola
Ace had always known you were different. It wasn’t just the way you carried yourself or the way you spoke,it was the way your eyes scanned a room like you were always searching for exits, the way your body tensed at loud noises that others barely noticed. At first, he thought you were just cautious, maybe even a little paranoid. But when you finally told him where you were from, it all started to make sense.
Zaun. A city that sounded more like a warning than a home.
Ace had never really thought about what life was like outside of NRC, let alone outside of his own world. Sure, he’d heard of rough places, but nothing like the way you described Zaun. A city built underground, choking on its own fumes. A place where the weak got eaten alive and even the strong barely scraped by. The way you talked about it was almost casual, like it was just another fact about yourself. But Ace knew better,he saw the way your fingers tightened around your cup, the way your gaze flickered just slightly when you mentioned certain things.
At first, he tried to joke about it. “So, what, you were some kind of badass street punk or something?” He grinned, nudging your side. But when you didn’t immediately laugh, when you just gave him a small, tired smile, the weight of your words hit him in a way he wasn’t prepared for.
“…Wait, seriously?” His grin faltered. “You actually had to fight to survive?”
You leaned back, exhaling softly. “It’s not like I had a choice, Ace.”
That shut him up real quick.
For once, he didn’t have a witty remark. Didn’t have some teasing comment to throw at you. Because, damn. You’d really lived through all that? The thought made his stomach twist uncomfortably.
Ace didn’t like thinking about things too deeply,he was more of a ‘go with the flow’ kind of guy. But now, the more he looked at you, the more he realized just how much he didn’t know about you. Sure, he knew the now,the way you laughed at his dumb jokes, the way you rolled your eyes when he got too cocky, the way you somehow always managed to keep him in check without actually bossing him around. But the before? That was something he had never even thought to ask about.
And now that he knew… well, let’s just say it hit him harder than he expected.
So, when he somehow found himself standing in the middle of Zaun, courtesy of some magic mishap, he quickly realized that he was way out of his depth.
The first thing that hit him was the air,it was thick, heavy with the scent of oil, metal, and something acrid that made his throat burn. The sky above was murky, covered in a haze of smoke and neon lights. People moved fast, their faces set in hard expressions, their eyes scanning him like they were sizing him up. Ace wasn’t used to that. At NRC, he was usually the one throwing people off their game, always one step ahead with a smirk on his lips. But here? Here, he felt like fresh meat in a lion’s den.
“Okay. Yeah. This place is definitely sketchy,” he muttered under his breath.
You chuckled beside him. “Told you.”
He turned to you, ready to make some sarcastic remark, but the words died in his throat when he saw the way you stood,calm, confident, completely at ease in a place that made his skin crawl.
Ace had seen you fight before. He knew you could handle yourself. But watching you here, in your element, was something else entirely. You moved like you belonged, like you knew every dark alley and every hidden danger before they even appeared. And maybe you did.
That realization hit him like a punch to the gut.
You had grown up here. Survived here.
Shit.
Ace had always known you were strong, but now he was starting to understand just how strong.
That night, when you finally found a quiet place to rest, he was still trying to wrap his head around everything. He sat beside you, his usual carefree grin nowhere to be seen. Instead, he just… stared at you for a long moment, like he was seeing you for the first time.
“You good?” you asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
He huffed, leaning back on his hands. “I dunno. Kinda feel like an idiot for not asking about this sooner.”
You tilted your head. “What do you mean?”
Ace let out a breath, ruffling his hair. “I just… I never really thought about where you came from, y’know? I mean, I knew you had it rough, but actually seeing this place? It’s a whole different thing.” He glanced at you, his usual playfulness replaced by something quieter. “I guess I just feel kinda stupid for never realizing how much you’ve been through.”
Your expression softened. “You didn’t need to know all that to care about me, Ace.”
“Yeah, but—” He groaned, flopping back onto the makeshift bed. “Ugh, this sucks. You’re way cooler than me, you know that?”
You blinked before snorting. “Is that really what you’re taking from this?”
He turned his head to look at you, his grin returning, though it was softer this time. “I mean, yeah. Here I was thinking I was the troublemaker, but turns out my partner’s the real badass.”
You laughed, shaking your head. “You’re impossible.”
He reached out, tugging you down beside him. You let out a small yelp as he wrapped his arms around you, pulling you into his warmth. His usual teasing was still there, but there was something else too something real. His grip was just a little tighter, his touch lingering just a little longer.
“Hey,” he murmured, resting his chin atop your head. “For real, though. I don’t care where you came from. I don’t care how rough things used to be. You’re here now. With me. And I don’t plan on letting you go anytime soon.”
Your heart ached at the sincerity in his voice. You had never needed saving,Zaun had made sure of that. But knowing that someone wanted to stand beside you, wanted to stay no matter what… that was something else entirely.
You closed your eyes, letting yourself relax in his embrace. “I know.”
Ace smirked. “Good. ‘Cause I’d hate to go through all this emotional crap just for you to run off.”
You smacked his arm, and he laughed, pulling you closer. The neon lights of Zaun flickered outside, but for once, you didn’t feel trapped by them. Because in Ace’s arms, for the first time in a long while, you felt like you had something worth holding onto.
Something worth staying for.
Deuce Spade !
Deuce had always known you were tough. From the way your eyes sharpened in tense situations, it was clear that you had seen things most people hadn’t. But when you finally told him where you came from,Zaun everything clicked into place.
He listened intently as you explained what your home was like. The smog-choked streets, the neon signs flickering against metal buildings, the constant hum of machinery filling the air. You spoke about it with a mix of fondness and bitterness, your words laced with memories of struggle.
Deuce didn’t know what to say at first. He wasn’t good with words, and honestly, he wasn’t sure if anything he said would be enough. So he just held your hand, squeezing it tightly.
“…It sounds rough,” he finally murmured, his voice quieter than usual.
You chuckled, though there was no real humor in it. “That’s one way to put it.”
From that moment on, Deuce started paying more attention. The way you flinched ever so slightly at sudden loud noises, how your shoulders tensed when someone stood too close, how your instincts always seemed one step ahead of everyone else’s. It made his heart ache.
And then, by some twist of fate, he found himself in Zaun.
The first thing that hit him was the air. It was thick, heavy with the scent of oil and metal, making it hard to breathe. The streets were dimly lit, neon signs casting eerie glows over damp cobblestones. People moved fast, their eyes sharp and guarded, their hands always close to their pockets,ready to defend, ready to run.
Deuce felt out of place.
His uniform was too clean, his movements too stiff. He stuck out like a sore thumb, and he knew it. His fists clenched instinctively, the old delinquent in him screaming at him to be ready for anything.
Then he looked at you.
You stood beside him, completely at ease. You navigated the streets like you belonged,because you did. While Deuce felt overwhelmed, you looked… at home.
It hit him then.
You had grown up in this. In these streets, in this constant tension, in this world where survival meant being two steps ahead.
Deuce swallowed hard, his heart pounding.
He had always thought of himself as strong. But now, seeing where you had come from, he realized,you were the strong one.
That night, after finally finding a safe place to rest, he couldn’t stay quiet anymore. He sat beside you, his usual confident expression replaced with something more uncertain.
“…How did you do it?” he asked suddenly.
You raised an eyebrow. “Do what?”
Deuce exhaled, ruffling his hair. “Survive here. Grow up here.” He turned to face you, his blue eyes filled with something you couldn’t quite place. “This place… it’s dangerous. It’s harsh. But you—” His jaw tightened. “You made it through all of this. How?”
You stared at him for a moment before giving a small shrug. “I had to.”
Deuce frowned. “That’s not an answer.”
You sighed, leaning back against the wall. “I fought. I stole when I had to. I ran when I couldn’t win. I learned to pick my battles.” You paused, glancing at him. “Same way you did, right?”
His breath caught.
Because you were right.
Deuce hadn’t grown up in a place like Zaun, but he knew what it was like to fight. To struggle. To feel like the world was stacked against him.
“…Yeah,” he admitted.
You smiled slightly. “Then you get it.”
Deuce was quiet for a long moment before he reached out, gently taking your hand in his. His grip was warm, steady,comforting.
“I don’t want you to go through that again,” he said softly.
You blinked. “Deuce—”
“I mean it.” He looked at you, his expression serious. “I know you don’t need me to protect you. You’re strong. You’ve always been strong. But…” He swallowed. “I still want to.”
Your chest ached at his words.
Because you knew. You had survived Zaun on your own, but now? Now, there was someone who wanted to stand beside you. Who wanted to shield you from a world that had already taken so much from you.
You leaned into him, resting your forehead against his shoulder. “You’re an idiot.”
Deuce chuckled, squeezing your hand. “Yeah. But I’m your idiot.”
You smiled, closing your eyes.
And for the first time in a long while, you felt safe.
Trey Clover !
Trey had always known that you were careful.
It was in the way you carried yourself calm, careful, always observing. You had this edge to you, this quiet awareness that never seemed to fade, even in the safety of Night Raven College. At first, he thought it was just your personality. But as he spent more time with you, he noticed the little things.
How you never sat with your back to a door.
How your steps were always light, controlled, ready to move in an instant.
How you scanned a room the second you entered, like you were mapping out exits.
Trey was patient. He never pushed, never pried. He just stayed close, letting you set the pace. And eventually, when you were ready, you told him.
You told him about Zaun.
About the smog-filled streets, the makeshift homes stacked on top of each other, the neon glow that never quite hid the darkness beneath. About the baron that ruled the alleys, the shimmer addicts slumped against walls, the fights that broke out over scraps of food.
You didn’t sugarcoat it.
Trey listened in silence, his usual gentle expression unreadable. And when you finished, he just exhaled slowly before pulling you into a hug.
“…That’s a lot,” he murmured.
You snorted against his chest. “Yeah.”
His arms tightened around you. “I can’t imagine what that was like. But I’m glad you’re here now.”
And he meant it.
But nothing could have prepared him for seeing it himself.
It wasn’t supposed to happen. You had no reason to go back. But somehow—through some twist of fate,Trey found himself standing in the middle of Zaun.
And for the first time in a long while, he felt completely out of place.
The air was thick, a strange metallic taste settling on his tongue. The streets were alive with movement, people rushing past, their gazes sharp and wary. The flickering neon lights cast eerie glows on cracked pavement, and every corner seemed to hide something dangerous.
He didn’t belong here.
He felt it in the way people looked at him,like he was a mark, someone too clean, too easy to take advantage of. Trey had been in rough neighborhoods before, but nothing like this.
Then he looked at you.
You moved through the streets effortlessly, slipping past people without a second thought. You didn’t hesitate, didn’t flinch. This was your home.
And suddenly, Trey saw you in a new light.
Not just as the person who teased him in the kitchen, who stole bites of his pastries when he wasn’t looking. But as someone who had survived in a place that chewed people up and spit them out.
His stomach twisted.
How many times had you gone to sleep hungry?
How many fights had you been in just to keep yourself safe?
How many nights had you wondered if you’d even see the morning?
Trey didn’t like thinking about it.
That night, when you finally found a place to rest, he sat beside you in silence. He hadn’t said much since you arrived, and you noticed.
“…You okay?” you asked.
Trey sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t know.” He glanced around. “This place… it’s rough.”
You huffed. “Yeah. But it’s home.”
Trey looked at you, his green eyes softening. “I get that. I just…” His voice trailed off before he shook his head. “I wish you didn’t have to grow up like this.”
You blinked.
You had expected pity, maybe even discomfort. But Trey just sounded… sad.
You leaned against him, letting your head rest on his shoulder. “I didn’t have a choice,” you murmured.
“I know.” His voice was quiet. “But it still doesn’t sit right with me.”
For a while, neither of you spoke. Then Trey exhaled, a small smile playing on his lips. “Y’know, I bet the people here would love my pastries.”
You snorted. “They’d rob you before you even finished setting up a stall.”
“Then I’d just have to bake fast enough to keep up.” He nudged you gently. “Bet I could win them over with a good tart.”
You rolled your eyes, but your lips twitched. “You’re ridiculous.”
Trey chuckled. “Maybe. But if we’re ever back here again, I’m making you something sweet. No arguments.”
You tilted your head, watching him.
Even here, in a place that was so far from his world, he still found ways to make you feel warm. Safe. Loved.
You reached out, intertwining your fingers with his. “You’re too good for this place.”
He squeezed your hand. “Maybe. But I’d still follow you anywhere.”
Your chest ached at his words.
Zaun had never been kind to you. But with Trey beside you, it didn’t feel so heavy anymore.
Maybe, just maybe, you weren’t as alone as you thought.
Cater Diamond !
Cater had always known you were different.
Not in a bad way,if anything, it made you more interesting. There was something about you that drew him in, something sharp and unshaken, like you had already seen the worst life had to offer and come out standing.
And that was intriguing.
At first, he chalked it up to you being a little reserved, a little more observant than the average NRC student. But then, he started noticing things.
The way you never fully relaxed in crowded places.
The way you always positioned yourself near an exit.
The way your eyes flicked to people's hands before their faces, like you were checking for threats.
It wasn’t just street smarts. It was survival.
But Cater wasn’t one to pry. He just smiled, played along, made jokes to see if he could get you to laugh. And eventually, you let him in.
You told him about Zaun.
The undercity, the toxic air, the towering factories that never stopped running. The gangs that ran entire districts, the shimmer dens hidden in plain sight, the people who learned to fight young or didn’t last long.
Cater had been expecting something dark, but not this dark.
He didn’t interrupt, didn’t joke. He just listened, his usual playful expression giving way to something softer, more serious. And when you finally stopped talking, he reached out, his fingers brushing against yours.
“Whoa,” he murmured. “And I thought my home life was rough.”
You huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah, well. You get used to it.”
His fingers curled around yours, holding on tight. “Doesn’t mean you should’ve had to.”
And for once, you didn’t have a response.
But hearing about Zaun was one thing. Seeing it was another.
Cater had always prided himself on adapting to any situation, on blending in wherever he went. But here? Here, he did not belong.
The second you stepped into Zaun, it was like entering a different world. The air was heavy, thick with pollution, and the neon lights flickering overhead barely cut through the smog. The streets were damp, filled with the scent of oil, metal, and something chemical that made his head feel light.
It was overwhelming.
For once, Cater wasn’t sure how to act. He could feel the stares, the way people sized him up in an instant. It was the kind of attention he didn’t like,the kind that made his skin crawl.
Then he looked at you.
And you? You weren’t fazed at all.
You moved through the streets with practiced ease, dodging a broken pipe here, slipping past a group of people there. You didn’t hesitate, didn’t second-guess. This was home to you.
Cater had always thought of you as cool, but now? Now, he was just in awe.
At some point, he grabbed your wrist, holding on just tight enough to let you know he was there. He didn’t say anything, didn’t complain about the air or the way his head was starting to pound. He just followed you.
And when you finally stopped, finding a place where the two of you could breathe, he let out a breathless laugh.
“Okay, I definitely underestimated what you meant by ‘Zaun is rough.’”
You smirked, leaning against the wall. “Told you.”
Cater shook his head, running a hand through his hair. “No, like—this place is next level crazy.” He exhaled, glancing around. “And you grew up in this?”
“Yeah.”
“…Damn.” He whistled low, looking at you with something different in his gaze. It wasn’t pity, wasn’t discomfort. It was admiration.
Because damn, you were strong.
Cater wasn’t the sentimental type, but something about this made his heart twist. You had survived all this, built yourself up from this, and somehow, you were still here. Still standing, still fighting.
And yet, you had let him in. Let him see this side of you.
That meant something.
“…You know,” he said after a moment, his voice quieter, “you don’t have to handle everything alone anymore.”
You blinked, caught off guard. “Cater—”
“I mean it.” He stepped closer, his usual grin softer now. “You’re a total badass, no doubt. But if you ever wanna lean on someone? I’m right here.”
Your chest ached.
You had spent your whole life relying on yourself, on your instincts, on your ability to survive. And now, here was Caterbright, unpredictable, carefree Cater,offering you something you never thought you’d have.
You swallowed hard before nudging him lightly. “You’re too soft for this place.”
He chuckled, bumping his forehead against yours. “Maybe. But I’d follow you anywhere, babe.”
And you believed him.
For the first time, Zaun didn’t feel so cold.
Because with Cater beside you, even the darkest streets felt a little brighter.
English is not my first language !
