Irish Rugby Men One-shots

Josh Van Der Flier

Context ~ It's the 2023 six nations and you are irelands on hand physiotherapist, p.s him and sophie aren't together in this <3

I sigh looking at my clock *4:30pm*. Thank goodness, I only have one person left before I can go home for the night. Truly I love my job but i get a lot of judgement from outsiders who say things like "You're only doing it because you fancy the rugby players." Which I can't lie they aren't wrong, I've had this job for 3 months and a certain flanker has caught my eye.

I hear a knock on my door, as i turn around there he was. Josh Van der Flier, as he enters I tell him to sit down on the black bench. "How's your shoulder holding up?" I ask walking around the back of the bench.
"It's been alright, it still hurts when i lift it too high." He sighs knowing that if i think it's still too damaged to play, he knows I will tell Andy that he cannot play.

"Can i take a look?" I ask nervously because i know what's about to happen. "Sure." Well holy fuck, it gets me every time, I've practically seen the whole team shirtless, from putting gauze over cuts to giving them Thai massages to prepare them to play after injuries but I normally take no notice, but with Josh it's different.

He looks at me, it's almost like he knows what he makes me feel, I look at his shoulder still bandaged up since the last time he came in although now the edges are starting to curl up at the sides from being caught on clothes and him being in the shower.

After taking the bandage off, i can see it's healed a decent bit. "It's looking a lot better now." I gently brush my fingers over his shoulder and he flinches. "Sorry, I didn't know it was still that tender..." I sound solemn and I am, the last thing I want to do is hurt him. "Yeah it's tender I suppose" I sense a type of fakeness to him saying it's tender but i brush it off.

**10 minutes into the massage**
We've been talking about funny things that have happened to us in the past when i realise, how he hasn't complained or flinched from the tenderness since. Confused I ask him, "I thought you said it was tender, you haven't flinched or make a noise to show it's sore since?"

You would need a knife to cut through the silence. It wasn't awkward it was like he was trying to find words to give me an answer. "Maybe it's because- " he stops, " I don't know, it's probably because you had just ripped the tape off it." I noticed he tensed up more and more since i asked him, inside me i wish i hadn't of asked him and we had carried on talking about how his sister stole his mums pavlova that she spent all morning preparing.

I don't reply, I just hum. When he hears it he seems to ease into my hands, now it's awkward. To try and keep me from exploding, I decide to give him good news "You should be ready for your next match, although I want you to be careful, another knock and it could cause even more damage as it will be delicate for awhile." It's silent, I know he's happy but somethings bothering him.

It's been 20 minutes and it's the end of our session, it's been silent the whole time but as i'm fading in and out of daydreams I hear him speak, "Can I still come? For physio?Even though I'm playing now, I think it would help."
"Of course you can, If there are people who are injured badly they might have to take your spot, but if i have free spaces you can come if you would like. I mean that's what i'm here for at the end of the day!" I say sort of joyfully realising he actually wants to be here.

I feel disappointed when he puts his hoodie back on to leave, as he goes to the door he stops and turns around. "Hey it's around tea-time, do you want to go get something to eat?" he asks with a sense of hope in his voice. "Sure! You're my last session today,so I don't have anywhere to be." I say jumping at the chance to go out with him.

As I tidy up my room, we walk out of the building together, as we walk up to his range rover. As i'm about to open my door he puts his arm infront of mine and opens it for me, "Thank you." OH. MY. WORD. He fucking winks at me and waits for me to get in and he closes my door and walks round to the drivers side and gets in.

"So where do you want to eat? I mean maybe not a 5 star restaurant cause we aren't dressed very fancy, I mean you look beautiful but leggings and a vest top maybe isn't the Glovers Alley dress code." He asks, but I don't give him an answer my stomach is doing front flips, HE called ME BEAUTIFUL?!?! I'm in shock. After a few seconds I answer, "Surprise me, you aren't wrong maybe somewhere less posh?"

He decides on a little restaurant that overlooks a small river, as the weather is nice so we sit next to it, on the balcony. "It's so pretty here" I say looking around us, but josh doesn't reply. I turn to look at him and he's staring at me. Almost as soon as he realises i've caught him staring at me he looks at the river and says, "Isn't it just."

After eating a bunch of food we are both stuffed and on our way home, at the restaurant he asked me for my address, that's where we are heading now. "My grandma moved near here when I was little, I remember driving here as a kid." I see his face light up as happy memories seem to flood his mind. I smile, that's all i've done since we've been together.

We finally arrive at my apartment block, as soon as he stops the car he gets out walks around and opens my door, "Thank you Josh, Not just for opening my door but for inviting me out for tea." I say genuinely.

That's when it happens. He leans forward and kisses me, it's gentle and loving but passionate and needy at the same time. The whole world could have set fire and i wouldn't have noticed. I pull back and hug him quickly while saying my goodbyes and walk into the building.