Because of You│Zelink BOTW & TOTK modern AU fanfic

Lawsuit - Day I

Impa's POV

The courthouse is already buzzing with tension even though it hasn't even started yet.

There's no jury for Hyrule's case against Karusa, but a handful of people are in the audience who are either connected to the case in some way, or here to support it. Apart from some bigshots who work at or for HU, the people here for support include me, Mipha, Kiroh, some frat boys, and my parents, to name a few. Oh and Link, obviously, since he's like the star of the show. Well, co-star. This whole thing is really about Karusa's actions, not Link's.

The only one missing here today is Zelda, but nobody's blaming her for rainchecking. She said she was 'too busy' to show up, but I know full well it would've just been too emotional to face Karusa with everything else going on. She's strong, but there's a limit for everyone.

I check my phone to see if she texted me, but after her last message from this morning in which she said how sorry she was that she couldn't be there to support Link, she didn't say anything else. Again, nobody blames her. I just wish she'd let me in on her thoughts. Vent to me or something. I miss her. Even when I'm right next to her, I still miss her because she's not fully there...

Link takes a look around the courtroom himself and then whispers to me. "Did you notice how there's nobody here to support Karusa? Not a single friend or family member."

I didn't notice it before, but he's right. It's just Karusa and his attorney. That's gotta look a little suspicious to the judge, right? I mean, that's in like chapter one of 'How To Identify A Sociopath.'

The judge finally enters the room, and we are all forced to stand up like it's the Queen, which is really pointless since she immediately tells us to sit back down. She's a stern-looking woman with thin, half-moon shaped glasses, and thin white hair.

She bangs her gavel. "Court is now in session."

Last time I heard those words was when I had the hearing for that bullshit arson charge in my first semester. Now it's Karusa's turn to face the heat.

My foot taps nervously under the table. Man, I hate this place. At least for now. Once I'm a judge, I'll be the one in charge. I'll make the decisions. The right ones!

While the judge starts with an opening statement that kind of summarizes why we're here today (as if we didn't know already), the quote-end-quote "Defendant" sits across from her, looking annoyingly relaxed. Or bored. Karusa really makes me want to punch him just for breathing the same air in the room. On the other hand, I sometimes wish someone would lock me in a room with him for 10 minutes or so, no cameras, no witnesses, and no intervention. I'd teach that punk a lesson he wouldn't forget.

His lawyer's name is apparently Agahnim. He looks prepared, venomous, and most of all pricey. Not a great start for us, but I'm sure Hyrule can afford better lawyers than some lowlife sewer rat like Karusa.

The judge is done, and the prosecution, John Joseph Kirby, stands up to state Hyrule's intentions from our viewpoint. He's got this no-nonsense vibe that I would usually make fun of, but today I'm all for it.

"Your Honor," he starts, "today we will present evidence showing that Karusa Valley not only initiated the brutal attack on Link Miyamoto, but did so with a calculated intent of severe harm. We will demonstrate how this attack, which left Mr. Miyamoto with life-altering injuries, stems from a pattern of reckless behavior rather than an isolated act of violence. Additionally, we will establish that Karusa's actions have tarnished the reputation of Hyrule University, a respected institution that prides itself on excellence and sportsmanship, and how he caused the school to suffer irreparable damage. These damages include but are not limited to: