When they met, it was not at a time where they could freely fall in love or have any decent connection.
It was while Feliciano was young, and he was powerful despite his youth and constant dislike of war.
Sadiq had never expected the kid to defeat him back then.
He'd lost to a little kid that many called a coward and yet that kid obviously could fight if he made the decision to do so and could even win.
It was why he wondered even now how the now grown nation curled up against him and why he chose to behave as if he was not a nation to be feared.
He behaved in a way that was relaxed enough to stun others and yet what could he fear if he'd defeated the once mighty Ottoman Empire?
Sadiq looped their fingers together as he felt the smaller nation lean against him and cuddle closer.
He knew while others view him as the mightier nation of the two of them and as Feliciano's protector that Feliciano really was the stronger of the two.
Sadiq found Feliciano to be the one that he'd let his guard down to, the one that had defeated him and destroyed his pride in the past.
He felt the Italian curl closer and felt honored enough to have such a strong nation looped around him so defenselessly; he thrilled over feeling the proximity of the smaller nation and yet could not have told the Italian how he felt.
Sadiq watched the beautiful way the Italian relaxed against him and slowly fell asleep as it was nearly a surrender as if he trusted the nation that he'd once defeated to guard him while he slept.
The Turk smiled at that little sign of love, of compassion, and held the Italian closer as if relishing all that he could from this.
It was the beautiful role reversal that locked him in place and stunned him at his own luck; Feliciano was beyond beautiful to him, beyond strong, and beyond all that he'd found perfect before in a person.
He smiled as he felt the Italian curl closer in his gentle and peaceful sleep and couldn't resist holding the dear nation closer under the understanding and love they'd arrive at since their first meeting that could have held two weaker nations apart yet did not tear them away from each other.