Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia or any of its characters.

A/N: This is my first time trying my hand at a Hetalia fanfic so if there are any discrepancies, I'm really sorry. I'm still trying to get a feel for the characters, especially trying to match them in this type of setting. Also, this is an AU set in 19th century Europe in no particular country or city but influenced mostly by London. It will be a USUK pairing, so if that isn't your cup of tea, please be warned. All that aside, I hope you enjoy the story and any comments or critique is most certainly welcomed.

Rain poured from the darkened and gloomy skies overhead, harsh and chilling. Alfred clutched onto his coat tighter, soaked to the bone as he made his way through the maze of whispering citizens. Absently, he wished that he had thought to bring an umbrella, not even noticing the gray skies when leaving his house. With a sad sigh, he managed to squeeze past the last line of people crowding the narrow alleyway, congratulating himself on fitting past the robust noblewoman who had just about taken half of the width of the path. He thought he would suffocate, trying to get past all of her girth, not to mention the ruffles upon her dress.

"Ah! Arthur!" he exclaimed happily, dashing towards the Englishman and popping himself right under the other's umbrella, hardly caring that he was already thoroughly drenched and flinging droplets everywhere that caused Arthur to cry out in surprise and protest. He was greeted with an irritated scowl, paying it no mind and simply grinning. "Hey! How's it going?"

"Get out from under my umbrella, you twit!" Arthur stated, attempting to push the other man back out into the rain. He was unsuccessful as their newest recruit clung onto him, unwilling to let go.

"No way! It's raining so hard, and I forgot my umbrella," whined Alfred, a sneeze engulfing his last few syllables. "Besides, what's wrong with sharing? C'mon, don't be so stingy, Arthur."

Fingers clapping onto his temple in a show of exasperation, Arthur let out an annoyed sigh, conceding despite his pride wildly shouting at him to just shove the ungrateful brat back out into the rain. It wasn't his fault that the idiot forgot an umbrella, after all.

"Fine, but let me go already. You're sopping wet and getting my clothes damp as well."

Alfred acquiesced with a victorious grin. It quickly dimmed, however, upon remembering why he was here. With muted blue eyes, he asked, "So, there was another murder?"

The abrupt change in demeanor caught Arthur off guard, but he kept up the pace, nodding. Keeping the umbrella steady under the pound of rain, he said with a small coat of frustration to his words, "Yes. It happened last night, though that's about all we know as of right now. Ludwig and the others are still investigating the crime scene and collecting evidence."

"Was it the same guy?"

"I'm not too sure."

Alfred frowned now, watching as Ludwig ordered a few of the other officers about.

"Why aren't you over there?"

"I've been waiting for your late ass," Arthur retorted with a snort, one eye closed. However, he held up a stack of papers, dotted with rain droplets thanks to Alfred, and said, "I've been going through the evidence that we have so far on this case and comparing it to the other two."

"So, it is the same guy, isn't it?!"

"There are a few differences, but it looks like a possibility."

Brows furrowed in some sort of misplaced anger and determination, Alfred took a step forward, ready to leave the umbrella's shelter, when an outstretched arm blocked his way, stopping him. He glanced over at Arthur with a confused look matting his face. "Huh? What's the deal, Arthur? Let me through."

"It's best if you don't see the body," the Englishman advised, a serious look clouding in his eyes as they stared straight at the younger male.

"Geez, I'm not a little kid anymore! You don't have to keep looking out for me," Alfred retorted with a wave of his hand, attempting to still push forward despite the blockade.

"It's true that you're probably too young, but that's not what I meant," Arthur elucidated, still holding the other back with a stern look in his eyes. "You shouldn't be in such a hurry to see something so horrific. You'll lose sight of what's really important."

Alfred stopped, eyes dropping to the stone ground. He hadn't necessarily been in a hurry because of excitement or anything equally disrespectful but rather so that he could hurry and catch this person and bring them to justice. So that no one else would have to die. But Arthur was right. It wasn't good to try and rush things along. To simply see the victim's body in order to collect data without any regards to the fact that they were human, not just victims, it would be wrong of him. It wasn't why he had joined the force.

"Sorry, you're right," he amended with an embarrassed smile, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish, gloved hand. "But, ah! What you said is surprisingly mature and thoughtful. Totally unlike you normally!"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? Huh?!"

"Nothing, nothing!"

"Looks like the two of you are having fun," came a gentle voice from in front.

"Ivan! I didn't even see you over there," remarked Alfred, barely noticing how Arthur stiffened, making a noise crossed between a whimper and a growl and hiding behind him. "How's it going?"

The taller man smiled, responding, "We've just about finished up. Gilbert is going to take the victim's body back to put her back together, and then we're going to go see him afterwards."

"Put her back together?" repeated Arthur with a raised brow.

"Mmh. She's been taken apart, you see," the Russian answered, matter of fact despite the calm tone and ever present smile, although it had a troubled edge to it. "They took out all of her internal organs too and made quite a mess of her. Kiku couldn't look at her for too long, so he went ahead back."

"What are you all doing just standing here?" asked Ludwig as he stepped forward and into their line of sight. He was just as drenched as Alfred, the collar of his coat up to keep the rain from splattering onto his neck and down his back. "Did you just get here, Alfred?"

"Yeah, sorry about that. When I was about three blocks away from my house, I realized that I forgot to feed my cat, so I had to run back home and do that! But then he got mad at me for forgetting in the first place and scratched my shirt so I had to change it before I could leave," he explained with a laugh.

"Right…" Ludwig cleared his throat. "Anyways, did you finish with the comparisons, Arthur?"

Arthur handed him the stack of papers, saying with a shrug, "Just about. I didn't have much to go on though, so it's probably not entirely accurate just yet. But basically, from the evidence we have now, the probability is fairly high."

"Damn, if only we could catch this guy," muttered Alfred vehemently, eyes narrowed with unbridled vexation.

Ludwig placed a hand on his shoulder with a knowing nod. He understood how the younger man felt, but in these times, it was always good to keep a calm head instead of being muddled down with disappointment.

"In any case, let's head back. There isn't anything more we can do here."

"Of course I put her back together properly! How rude!" cried the coroner with a glare. "I'm great, you know. Only someone as wonderful and marvelous as me could perform such a feat!"

"I find it inappropriate that you're allowed this job," Arthur deadpanned as he stared at the haughty man. Gilbert wasn't necessarily part of the force, but as the only coroner and mortician around, it was inevitable that their work would tie closely together. Normally, he didn't mind the other man, finding it relatively easy to get along with him outside of work. However, once they stood in their respective professions, something about Gilbert's egotistical attitude didn't sit right with him, irritating Arthur to no end.

"Oh c'mon, don't be like that, Arthur!" Alfred remarked with a good natured grin as he slapped the other on the back. "He's just like you, in my opinion."

Easily throttling the other, Arthur yelled, "What part of me is just like him?! I'm nothing like that pompous jerk! He's so conceited and stupid and only ever talks about himself!"

"Like I said, exactly alike," laughed Alfred, barely noticing the dangerous aura filling the room and the irritated fist headed straight for him.

"Anyways," the older blond began, ignoring Alfred's whines of pain from behind him, "what do you have to report?"

"Nothing really." Gilbert shrugged. "This body was rather boring, actually. He took all of her internal organs out, to keep I presume, and then sewed her back up. It was a really ugly job though. I mean, the stitch work was not bad, but he used a waaaay too thin needle and ended up bruising the skin!" he complained with a grumble.

"Was there anything unusual?"

"Oh, you mean besides the missing organs and the manners to sew her back up?" With a snort, Gilbert continued, "Yes, actually. He replaced her eyes with glass ones and filled her up with sawdust. Maybe to make up for taking her organs? Although really, I guess he wanted to immortalize her as a doll."

Brows coming together, Alfred echoed, "A doll?"

"That's right," the mortician answered, hands on his hips and a cocky tilt of his brow. "I really don't know why you guys are acting all surprised, though. It's not like she's the first one to come through like this."

"Technically, she is," Arthur shot back. "All the other victims were left with their organs and eyes intact."

"Actually," started Gilbert, almost gleeful in his knowledge, "they weren't."

Thinly veiled surprise was thrown about his face as his jaw dropped in response. Immediately, however, his eyes narrowed, suspicion storming within his lime green hues as he said brusquely, "Don't try to trick me, you bastard. The other two victims—"

"Only had their throats sliced?" finished Gilbert with a nasty grin that set both officers on unease. "Yes, the two victims that you're thinking about did only have their throats sliced. But what makes you think I haven't gotten bodies in here of this same motif?"

Within an instant, Arthur had the mortician by the collar, eyes blazing with fury at his nonchalant and rather delighted pitch. He snarled, "What the fuck have you been hiding here?"

"Calm down, Arthur!" Alfred exclaimed, grabbing the older man's shoulder and attempting to pry him apart from Gilbert. Once they had been separated, he turned his attention to the coroner, asking in a rushed breath, "What did you mean by that?"

"I'm surprised you all haven't noticed, but I suppose if the families hadn't thought anything of it, there would be no need to call on you bunch," remarked Gilbert with a sort of mocking sigh.

"C'mon on, Gilbert. Tell us what you meant that you had gotten other bodies with the same motif," appealed Alfred gently, a look of soft sincerity alighting his facial features.

Gilbert made a small noise of disapproval but yielded at the pure earnestness of the younger boy's eyes. He hadn't seen such a thing, wholly untainted, in quite some time. With his arms crossed, he elucidated, a haughty curl of his lips, "I've been getting bodies that similarly have all of their organs removed and replaced with sawdust. And, of course, their eyes are replaced with a set of glass ones that match the original in color. Almost frighteningly so."

"Is there more to it?" questioned Alfred, pushing the other man upon seeing the unfinished look resting upon his face.

"Why yes, there is, actually. With the first body, the incision was made right down the chest. Freaking hideous place to make it, in my opinion. But excluding that first body, all the other incisions were down on both side, from the under arm all the way down to the hip and one straight across, below the belly. And of course, there's the matter of the clothes."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Arthur muttered.

"They're all usually dressed in the finest set of clothes when brought to me. The type some aren't able to afford unless they're a noble."

Arms crossed, Alfred hummed thoughtfully before asking, "Exactly how many people have come in like this? And why haven't the families said a word to the police?"

"So far, about four, including your latest find. As for the ones with families, I'm going to assume they didn't know they were murdered. Quite a mysterious, isn't it? How can someone die and then suddenly reappear in their own bed a few days later without anyone ever taking notice?" His smile seemed to widen, the edges of his lips curling upward with the presented question.

"Hey, Gilbert, do you think I could get a look at one of them? I want to see those glass eyes that you were talking about," the rookie requested.

"Only if you tell me how great I am."

Arthur landed a sound punch on the arrogant man's head, eye twitching at his stupidity.

Rubbing his head, Gilbert led them to the back which stood just as dark and gloomy, muttering, "I let you do that so you wouldn't feel so weak and stupid about yourself." He headed for the coffin sitting atop a wooden platform that resembled a modest stage. Pulling off the cover, the mortician remarked as he pried apart the eyelids with his thumb and forefinger, hardly fazed "Here's a boy that came in. I left them in so that his sockets wouldn't look so sunken in."

Arthur was the first to approach her, mouth set into a thin, tight line as he examined the small boy. He looked to be no more than twelve years old, still just a child. His eyes hardened at the thought of anyone being able to do such a thing to someone so young.

From beside, he could hear a sharp noise followed by a quick intake of breath. Turning his eyes over to his teammate, Arthur could see the turmoil wracking his former charge. He could understand Alfred's emotions, though. As a veteran, he had seen his own share of horrors and nightmares that plagued the hearts of humans. In his first few years, it had been difficult to handle, and he had always felt such a raw anger and disappointment heating his blood with each passing case. He knew what the human heart was capable of to the truest extent.

With a sympathetic pull of his lips, Arthur placed a calming hand on the other's shouldering, feeling the tremors.

"You don't have to put yourself through all of this, Alfred."

"Let's go," Alfred suddenly exclaimed as though he had been deaf to the statement, turning to Arthur with such resolute, unwavering blue eyes that the other man was taken aback by the sheer intensity of his emotions. Jaw set, he remarked with equal fervor, "We have to hurry and catch this guy to protect the children."

Before Arthur could get in a word, the younger blond nodded once as though resolved in his own words and headed for the exit, seemingly satisfied. For what, Arthur wasn't quite sure. All he knew was that there was something shining within Alfred's eyes, and it pushed him to go after the dolt.

"This kid's got a real hero complex, doesn't he?" remarked Gilbert as he leaned forward, elbows resting on coffin whose lid he just replaced.

Arthur rolled his eyes, saying with a sigh eating his words, "Yeah, he does. Thanks for the help, Gilbert." He followed after, missing the mortician's singsong voice calling after them.

"Better be careful," he warned to the closing door as the bells jingled their exit, a tinted smile edging his lips, "or else he'll fall into disillusionment and lose that sense of justice to this world."

"An entirely different person?" repeated Ludwig with an arched brow as he regarded the other two with bemusement.

"Yes, it would appear so," Arthur reported with a grim look. "Gilbert told us of three other bodies that came to him in a similar condition as the one we found two days ago. All of them children."

"Three other children? How is it that we've never noticed the other victims?" asked Kiku, put off by the idea of it as evident by the alarm threaded in his words.

Head tilted thoughtfully, Ivan commented with a keen eye, "Well, it's possible that no one thought of their deaths as murders. After all, Gilbert didn't think to mention it to us either, which means that their manner of death was made to seem quite natural."

"Even if that's true, there's still really no way of telling unless he claims another victim," remarked the German with a rough sigh, looking as though the words were equally unpleasant on his tongue.

"That's exactly what we're trying to prevent though!" Alfred argued vociferously, slamming his palm down on the table. "We can't just wait for more people to die so we can get all the pieces together! We're supposed to be protecting these people, and that means that we need to find this guy and bring him to justice now before anyone else has to die!"

"Unfortunately, it's not that easy. We don't have entirely enough information regarding this matter. Not to mention, we're still trying to figure out who is committing the other murders," reminded Ludwig, rubbing his brow with a weary hand. He spread out the papers currently sitting in front of him, staring at each with a sharp frown. Everyone seemed to sit in similar silence.

"Then, I'll take this!" the young man declared suddenly, eyes brimming with determination as all attention turned towards him. "I'll find the guy that's doing this to the children and make him face justice for his crimes!"

"Hold on, you're way too young and inexperienced to be handling something like this!" Arthur quickly protested. "It's barely been a few months since you joined, and you're already saying such imbecilic things. Besides, you don't even know where to begin. Don't think about trying to be some hero and be realistic, you idiot."

"Well, then, you can help me!"

"Don't just drag me into this on your own!"

Raising a hand, Kiku spoke demurely, "I think I agree. With Arthur's assistance, surely letting Alfred take this case on wouldn't have too serious of repercussions."

Ivan nodded in agreement, smiling as he said, "I agree as well. Alfred hasn't been able to have a case that really challenges his limits. It might be good to let him see the kinds of things that we've all already experienced."

"You guys can't be serious! Knowing him, he'll just mess things up and charge forward recklessly like a bloody lunatic!"

"Come on, Ludwig! I can do this, and everyone else thinks so too! It'll be one less thing for you to worry about, and I'll have this guy caught and sitting in jail by dinner time tomorrow! What do you say?" pushed Alfred with a wide grin of confidence, completely ignoring Arthur's spluttering in the background.

There was a look of mild discomfort passing upon their superior's face before he closed his eyes, sighing heavily. It wasn't a decision he wanted to make, knowing how Arthur felt about the matter and feeling uneasy at putting their youngest recruit into a potentially dangerous position, but in such times, personal feelings had no place. The capture of the criminal, the protection of the citizens, those were what ranked the highest. With a single nod, Ludwig gave in, saying sternly, "All right. I'll leave this case to you, Alfred, Arthur. But be careful, and don't rush into anything you can't handle. Understood?"

"You got it!" Alfred beamed. "This guy is no match for me!"

Arthur grumbled his displeasures, quickly getting into a one sided argument with the noisy American. But despite himself, he wanted to believe in that childish yet unwavering determination, hoping that it would never fade of twist because of this job. He hoped that Alfred, in the very least, would come out unscathed.