Autistic Simon x Anxious Reader
Simon has a huge problem and he has no clue what to do about it. It took him way longer than he’d like to admit to figure out what he was feeling, but he has a crush on you. Simon hasn't had a crush in years, well before he was even in the military, but now he has the biggest crush on you, he’s damn near obsessed. Which wouldn't be the biggest deal, except, you’re Price's sister and you're totally off limits. And when Simon has a problem he would normally ask Price for advice, but obviously that's completely off the table.
Thankfully you don't work directly on the team, but you work with Laswell just on a smaller scale, you work mostly with the 141, in fact your office is on base. Even though being around you makes Simon super nervous, he loves that you're so close. Being mid mission and getting to hear your voice feels like salvation for him, and just passing you in the hallway has him forgetting his name. Occasionally you join the 141 during their team bonding, and Simon just spends the whole time staring at you.
How you nor Price are able to see his obvious crush the sergeants aren't sure, but they see it clear as day, and they immediately corner Simon about it. They tried to help Simon, but Simon wasn't ready to ruin your relationship, he had no clue if you even liked him, and he knew Price was absolutely going to say no. So that's where the sergeants started. Soap tried to subtly ask Price if you were single, but he saw through Soap clear as day, and very sternly said he was absolutely not allowed to date you or even flirt with you. Which only made Simon more discouraged. Gaz tried to offer advice on asking you out, even if it wasn't a date, but Simon was just too nervous.
Simons simply accepts that he’ll never get to be with you. And so instead he devotes his time to appreciating you in subtle ways. He knows he isn't the best with certain social things, so he goes out of his way to learn, and more specifically learn what you like and what you're comfortable with, what makes you tense up or makes you start fidgeting. Simon has a whole little notebook with things about you.
He knows you don't like eating around others because being in a public setting makes you nervous and combined with food you get nauseous. He knows you don't like drinking coffee because it can make your anxiety worse, but if someone buys it for you'll force yourself to drink it. He knows before they go on a mission you often have so much to do, he knows you won’t sleep or eat, panicking trying to get everything done. So he makes sure to stop by, he brings you a snack even though he knows you wont eat it in the moment, but he makes you sit with him for a bit, while playing soft music, and just naturally your breathing evens out and you slowly calm down. He knows all the signs to tell when you're getting nervous, your leg shaking, cracking your knuckles, fidgeting with jewelry, biting at your lips, and if he pays really close attention he can see you sweating and the change in breathing. He knows what areas you avoid, and makes sure you don't have to go there. Simon knows this and so much more, he goes out of his way to help you in any way he can.
Simon doesn't think you notice any of it, but in reality you notice everything. Simon is incredibly special to you because no one has ever paid enough attention to you to see all the signs, to know when and why you're anxious without you saying it, you even notice the small ways Simon helps you, the music, the snacks, even holding your hand when you're really nervous. And you like Simon just as much, but in your mind, he’s just a friend, if he liked you he would've already asked you out. So you bury your feelings, until the two sergeants notice you staring lovingly at Simon when he isn't looking. They tried to be subtle about it, not wanting to overwhelm you, but eventually you did tell them about your little crush on Simon and where it came from, and then they just shared a look you couldn't quite understand before leaving. You're not sure what that's about, but you trust them with your secret, it's probably nothing, right?