You, Simon, and Ghost’s love…of durian | Simon Riley x GN! Reader
Ghost and Simon Riley are different people, same body! Reader is gender neutral and implied to be a POC.
I think about all my fellow Asian readers (and any other race of reader who happens to know what I’m talking about) about LOVING the flavor of durian and end up getting Ghost and Simon to try it and he…surprisingly loves it too.
Durian. A fruit that is known to stink to everyone unfamiliar with it. To you though, it’s your most beloved and favorite taste. It’s sweet, mellow, creamy, and even a little nutty garlic-ly in flavor. You loved it and you had to have it as ice cream, pastries, and candies. Durian anything is what you love the most. Especially since it was such a common thing in your culture.
However, your past relationships would complain how stinky the food from your culture was. They couldn’t handle how “strong smelling” your food was. Said it looked like brown mush or worms. Let’s just Those relationships did not last very long once. They complained about your culture’s food, how women in that culture was “too loud”, and that they couldn’t understand the accent your parents had. You thought you could handle it but dropped them when they started complaining and giving you looks.
Simon and Ghost ~
When you start dating Simon Riley, he didn’t mind your food “smelling” or the “weird” fruits you would bring home to eat when he was home. He would try it with you when you asked him if he wanted to try some.
Ghost was the first to convince you that it was okay to eat your food inside after all, having caught you pretty quickly when he got home early, still in his mask, gear, and the mindset of Ghost. He found that the room smelt strongly of air freshener, you were nowhere to be seen even though it was your day off. So he looked and found you outside on the ground of the porch about to dig into some of the food you just heated up, but you were too busy fighting off bugs to even start before he had dragged you by the scruff of your shirt while you held your food to the table. Telling you to eat at the table.
“But…what if I stink up the house...”
“Simon don’ care. I won’ either, love.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, ‘m sure.” You felt his gloved hand on the back of your head, hesitant at first but did his best to be gentle with you.
He was a little rough, earning a surprised noise from you, then he pressed his forehead against yours. You wanted to rub your cheek against his, but this wasn’t Simon, it was Ghost. So, you let the moment be.
“Thank you,” You hummed, the only response you got was a grunt from Ghost.
Simon came back a few minutes later. So, you were able to get your face rubs in, earning a chuckle from him since you managed to get black face paint on yourself when you did that.
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Though, he was a man who would eat ANYTHING. You knew he wouldn’t talk about his past much, all you know that he’s military and he has the scars, gear, and Ghost to prove it. Despite expecting the ups and downs of dating a military man like him— Who’s much older than you by five to ten years, the PTSD, and issues when it comes to what he’s been through experience wise— he was still soft when it came to you and they made you feel safe. Despite Ghost only knowing no comfort, Ghost’s presence gave you comfort. Knowing he was keeping your Simon safe. While Simon made you feel safe as well, clinging on to him like an affectionate cat. Ghost and Simon would also grab you like a cat, but the scruff of your shirt and drag they wanted you to be.
You liked it. You were exactly where you wanted to be. Manhandled by the love of your life.
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The family’s approval ~
They both did not just tolerate your culture, they enjoyed your culture as well. When you introduced him to your parents, they were unsure. Mostly because he was older, wore a face mask, and was not what they were expecting their baby (even though you’ve been in your twenties for quite some time) to date a man like Simon Riley. Though, they seemed more happy that you were in a relationship with someone who would take care of you. They saw how he treated you and how you were with him (lovingly affectionate and clingy to the man in your own little way). They welcomed him. Your grandparents, it took a while but they got there.
Your sibling(s), cousins, younger aunties, and uncles though…that took a little more convincing, since it was a little unconventional for twenty something to be dating someone in their late thirties, maybe even early fourties. Though, knowing you were safe and happy was more than enough. What convinced them was at Christmas dinner when your parents were worried about the food being too strong smelling for him (despite having white people over before who never minded the food). You simply took food off your plate and fed it to him.
“See, he likes it! You like, Si?”
“Mhm,” he responded, pointing at a hard pronounce food that you had taught him, saying it pretty well his Manchester accent can pronounce.
“Can I try more of tha’?”
Let’s just say your parents and grandparents praised him for being able to say it, feeding him even more. When everyone hung out in the living room later, you were way more talkative than usual while Simon just listened and responded, even watching videos or watch you do something you enjoyed. He even talked to your sibling(s), cousins, or aunties and uncles when they had the chance to ask.
After a while, you both had disappeared while they did karaoke, looking for everywhere but…your childhood room. They were…kind of scared to check. A couple…alone in a bed room. The things he could do to you in that bed! Though when they opened the door, they saw….Simon (it was Ghost, but they didn’t need to know) was sleeping… but you were nowhere to be seen.
Until they found you under him when they saw your hand. Simon had gotten overwhelmed because of the loud music, he had switched to Ghost. You were able to talk to him in your room for a while, your bed being bigger than you but fit him damn near perfectly, eventually getting tired and falling asleep. Instead of cuddling you like a normal person, he straight up just laid on top of you, while you decided to scroll on your phone until you were found. Despite having a six foot three behemoth on top of you, you were fine. You were about to fall asleep if they hadn’t come in. Simon eventually woke up.
That’s when they all decided that you were fine and Simon was perfect for you. Enjoys your culture, gets along with you, and gets you to be more open? Yeah, he was amazing for you. Two (three) peas in a pod the both of you.
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You never knew finding someone who would enjoy your culture’s food with you would give such a warm and welcoming feeling. You were honestly expecting him to eat anything despite how bad it was, but not enjoy it. Both him and Ghost however…they LOVED durian. Probably more than you. So much so, he wanted you to add it to his lunch while you were making it for him. You decided on a smoothie, something lowkey and would be kept closed.
You never expected him to open the damn thing and chug it because of his love for it and get questioned by his team who all learned what a durian was that day. Your man had drank it all but his team was curious.
Thats when you greeted by the door with a grumpy Ghost and the rest of task force 141, curious at your doorstep, asking for some durian. Let’s just say, not everyone liked it but Gaz and Soap are new fans while Price enjoyed roasted chestnuts and jackfruit.
You stared at Price eating what you had given him. “You know… you eat like my grandparents,” a snort could be heard from a certain scot.
Ghost smiled under the mask, enjoying listening to Simon’s bird hang out with his team and being able to share a part of their culture. It made him feel…satisfied. Safe enough for Simon to finally come out.
“Welcome back, Lovely.”
You greeted when he came up to you, his hand grabbing yours. You ended up hugging him. Your cheek pressed against his chest while he hugged you back. His team could tell that he was well taken care of and quite happy with the life you both built together.
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My first fanfic! Hopefully y’all like it, be gentle with me lol
I might write more later, and I will write one where reader is racially ambiguous. I just wanted to write an asian reader, since I don’t see a lot of those around for the CoD fanfics.
I tried my best to make it non-specific (other than durian and jackfruit mention). It is lowkey based on how my family is though and based on how I would probably be if I interacted with someone like Ghost. Other than that, tried to keep it non-specific as possible so you can insert yourself as the reader! I might draw reader being dragged around like a cat later.
See ya in another five years U,U7
