When Magic Meets Iron

May Parker first heard about Harry Evans from the neighbors.  

It wasn’t gossip exactly—more like curious whispers

about the new kid in Queens.  

“A sixteen-year-old raising a child?” Mrs. Rodriguez had said, shaking her head. “Poor boy. He’s an orphan to, you know. No family left.”  

That had caught May’s attention.  

No family?  

“And he’s raising a kid alone?” she had asked.  

“Yeah,” Mr. Lee from the corner store had chimed in. “I asked once if he had anyone around—extended family, older relatives—but he just smiled and said, It’s just me and Teddy.”  

That stuck with her.  

A teenager, completely alone, choosing to take care of a child.  

And from what she heard, he was handling it well.  

“He’s got this… I don’t know, calm about him,” Mr. Lee had continued. “Like, nothing shakes him. And that little boy? Happy as can be.”  

May had found it impressive. But it wasn’t until Peter started talking about him that she realized just how important Harry had become to her nephew.   

At first, it was just casual mentions.  

“Harry says dodging is just as important as landing a hit.”  

“Harry made Teddy laugh so hard he fell off the couch—dude, you should’ve seen it!”  

Then it turned into full-on admiration.  

“Harry’s the coolest. He’s only sixteen and basically a martial arts master.”  

“He never brags about it, but he knows everything about fighting. Like, real strategy. Not just ‘punch bad guys and hope for the best.’”  

“He’s freakishly smart. Like, not normal smart. He says he didn’t go to a regular school, but he studies all the time. I think he knows more than my teachers.”  

May had raised an eyebrow at that.  

Peter continued, oblivious.  

“Oh, and he never ignores me. Like, I can ask him literally anything, and he actually listens. And if I mess up? He doesn’t yell, he just... explains what I did wrong and how to fix it. Like a real mentor.”  

May had noticed it wasn’t just Harry’s skills Peter admired.  

It was who he was. 

And then came the part that really struck her.  

“Harry’s raising a kid, May,” Peter had said one night after dinner. “And he’s so good at it. He’s patient. He actually listens to Teddy, like he’s important. You should see them together—it’s like Teddy’s the most precious thing in the world to him.”  

Peter had sounded almost… envious.  

And that had settled it.  

She needed to meet this kid.  

But one thing had confused her.  

Peter had never been interested in self-defense before.  

And now, suddenly, he was obsessed with it.  

It wasn’t like she didn’t want him to learn—knowing how to protect himself was a good thing—but she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something off about it.  

“So… let me get this straight,” she had asked one evening, arms crossed. “You’re telling me some random kid you just met is giving you free self-defense lessons?”  

Peter had nodded eagerly. “Yeah! He’s awesome at it, May.”  

“That’s not the point.” May frowned. “Why is he doing it for free?”  

Peter had blinked. “Uh… because he’s nice?”  

May had given him a look.  

Peter sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, I think he just… I don’t know, sees something in me? Like, he thinks I have potential.”  

May narrowed her eyes. “And since when do you care about learning how to fight?”  

Peter hesitated. “I mean, you always tell me it’s good to know self-defense, right?”  

May crossed her arms. “Peter. You’re my nephew. I know you. You’ve never cared about this stuff before. What changed?”  

Peter shifted uncomfortably.  

May waited.  

Finally, Peter muttered, “I just… want to be stronger.”  

There was something heavy in those words.  

May softened immediately.  

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Pete… if something’s going on, you know you can tell me, right?”  

Peter nodded quickly. “I know! I just… I just want to learn. That’s all.”  

May studied him for a long moment, but in the end, she let it go.  

For now.  

But she made a mental note—when she met Harry, she was definitely going to ask him about this.  

The opportunity came one evening at dinner.  

Peter was rambling about training again—how Harry had flipped him onto his back five times in a row, how he was too cool for words.  

May let him talk for a while, then casually asked, “So when do I get to meet this awesome big brother of yours?”  

Peter choked on his drink.  

“Wha—meet him?”  

May raised an eyebrow. “Peter, you never stop talking about this kid. You literally worship the ground he walks on.”  

“I do not—”  

“Sweetheart, you do"

Peter groaned, sinking into his chair. “Fine. But why do you want to meet him?”

May tilted her head.

“Because you spend half your free time at his house. Because he’s teaching you how to fight. Because he’s a sixteen-year-old raising a child, and I’d like to make sure you’re not overwhelming him with your endless energy.”

Peter frowned. “I’m not overwhelming—”

“You’re talking about him right now,” May pointed out, smirking.

Peter pouted.

May smiled, then softened. “Look, Pete. I’m glad you have someone to look up to. I just want to meet him and his son. You clearly adore them.”

Peter hesitated, then sighed.

“Okay, okay. I’ll text him.”

Harry agreed easily.

He invited them over for dinner, saying Teddy would love to meet Peter’s aunt.

So, a few days later, May Parker found herself standing in front of a modest townhouse, curiosity thrumming in her veins.

Peter bounced on his heels, clearly excited but nervous.

She had questions.

Why was Harry teaching Peter for free? Why did Peter suddenly want to learn self-defense?

But most of all…

Who was Harry Evans?

And why did Peter trust him so much?

She was about to find out.

May Parker had been expecting someone mature beyond his years.

After all, Peter wouldn’t stop talking about how calm, responsible, and wise Harry was. The neighbors had painted him as capable, independent, and focused on raising his son.

And so far?

That all seemed true.

But what she hadn’t expected was how… normal Harry Evans appeared when he opened the door.

Sure, he carried himself with an ease that didn’t match his age, but when he smirked at Peter and said, “Teddy, I think Peter’s trying to impress us with his fancy clothes,” it was so dryly teasing that Peter groaned immediately.

“I hate you.”

Harry’s smirk widened. “I know.”

May bit back a laugh.

Oh. She liked him already.

Meeting Teddy

Teddy Evans was adorable.

Bright turquoise hair, wide brown eyes, and a ridiculous amount of energy.

“Aunt May!” he declared, arms spread wide. “Welcome to our home!”

May grinned. “Why, thank you, sir.”

Teddy beamed, then dramatically whispered behind his hand, “I practiced that all morning.”

May chuckled. “You nailed it.”

Harry, standing behind him, shook his head fondly. “Come in before Teddy starts reciting Shakespeare.”

May stepped inside, taking in the space.

It was small but warm, decorated in a way that made it clear a young child lived here. Crayons on the table, a few scattered toys near the couch, and a handmade sign taped to the wall that read: WELCOME ANT MAY (with the “U” clearly smudged out).

She smiled. It felt like a real home.

And despite everything she’d heard about Harry being a sixteen-year-old raising a child alone, there was nothing about this place that felt chaotic or unbalanced.

If anything, it was… peaceful.

That alone told her a lot.

Dinner was shockingly normal.

Teddy talked the most, filling the conversation with random stories about his daycare, how he was “learning to be a ninja” from Peter, and how Harry made the best pancakes in the world, no contest.

Peter complained loudly. “Excuse you, I made you pancakes once!”

Teddy patted his hand sympathetically. “They were good, Big Brother Peter. But Harry’s are better.”

Peter made a wounded noise.

Harry smirked. “You’ll recover.”

May, watching all this, realized something.

This was normal for them.

Peter wasn’t just training with Harry. He was part of their routine.

And Harry—who had no family—had somehow ended up with her nephew as his honorary sibling.

It was… kind of sweet.

Getting to Know Harry

“So, Harry,” May said casually, after Teddy had gotten distracted with his mashed potatoes. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. “All good things, I hope.”

Peter immediately groaned. “Why would you say that?! Now she’s gonna tell embarrassing stories.”

May grinned. “Oh, you mean like how you went on a ten-minute rant about how ‘Harry’s footwork is like magic and he barely even moves, it’s like he’s predicting everything before it happens—’”

Peter whined loudly. “I hate you.”

Harry chuckled, amused. “I mean, I do have excellent footwork.”

May shook her head fondly. “See? This is why he never shuts up about you.”

Harry just shrugged. “Peter’s got potential. He just needs to stop throwing himself into attacks like an idiot.”

Peter looked betrayed. “I am sitting right here.”

May laughed, then leaned back slightly, watching Harry closely. “But seriously. You’re training him for free. Why?”

Harry’s expression didn’t change. “Because he asked.”

May raised an eyebrow. “That simple?”

Harry tilted his head, considering. Then he sighed. “Yes but..Alright. It’s also because he reminds me of me.”

May blinked.

That… wasn’t what she expected.

Peter perked up, suddenly paying close attention. “Wait… seriously?”

Harry smirked. “Yes, Peter. I was also an overly energetic child with terrible impulse control.”

Peter gasped. “Oh my God, I knew it.”

May chuckled but kept her gaze on Harry. “But you’re not exactly a trained instructor. Where did you learn all this?”

Harry was silent for half a second before answering, “I had a… complicated childhood.”

There was something in his tone. Not quite sadness, but a finality.

May decided not to push.

Instead, she smiled softly. “Well, I appreciate you looking out for Peter.”

Harry met her gaze and gave a breathtaking smiles. “He’s a good kid.”

Peter grinned. “I am pretty awesome.”

Teddy giggled. “You’re okay.”

Peter gasped dramatically. “Not you too, Teddy!”

Harry and May laughed.

By the end of dinner, May had learned a lot.

Harry was clearly intelligent—he carried himself like someone who had seen way too much for his age but had learned how to keep it from consuming him.

He was patient and steady, especially with Teddy.

And Peter?

He wasn’t just learning self-defense from him.

He was learning how to think, how to plan, how to be better.

Harry genuinely cared about him.

When they were leaving, Teddy hugged Peter tightly. “Come back soon, Big Brother Peter!”

Peter grinned, ruffling his hair. “Obviously.”

Then, to May’s surprise, Teddy turned and hugged her too.

She blinked, then smiled, ruffling his black hair. “See you later, kiddo.”

Then she turned to Harry, who was watching with that same unreadable expression.

She hesitated. Then she said, “You’re doing a good job, you know.”

Harry blinked once. “What?”

“With Teddy,” she clarified. “With… everything. You’re doing a good job.”

For the first time, Harry looked genuinely taken aback then smiled.

Like he wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

Then, finally, he just nodded.

“Thanks.”

And with that, May left with Peter, feeling a lot better about this whole thing than she ever expected.

May Parker had never been one to let things go.  

If something didn’t make sense, she asked questions. If she didn’t like the answers, she kept asking. And right now, Harry Evans didn’t make sense.  

So she was going to do what she had to do.  

Dig.

Peter had too much faith in Harry to question anything, and while May was happy he had someone to look up to, she wasn’t about to let him get attached to someone with a past he didn’t even understand.  

She needed answers.  

And the first step?  

Spending more time around Harry and Teddy. 

Which, conveniently, was easy—because Teddy had already decided she was family. 

“Teddy, sweetheart,” May said one afternoon as the little boy happily swung his legs at the kitchen table. “Tell me about your dad.”  

Teddy lit up instantly.  

“Dad is the best,” he declared. “He can do everything!”  

May chuckled. “Oh yeah?”  

Teddy nodded so fast his turquoise curls bounced. “He cooks really good food! And he tells the best stories. And he knows how to do all the cool fighting stuff —he’s, like, a super ninja!” 

May raised an eyebrow, amused. “A super ninja?”  

Teddy gasped. “No! A super secret agent ninja!”  

May bit back a laugh. “Wow. Sounds impressive.”  

Teddy beamed. “He is! And he never gets mad. He just knows things. Like when I have bad dreams, he always wakes up before I even call him! And when I’m sad, he always knows.”  

May paused.  

That… was oddly specific.  

“And he’s always there,” Teddy added proudly. “He promised. And Dad never breaks promises.”  

May smiled softly.  

She could see it.  

Teddy worshipped Harry—not out of blind admiration, but because Harry had earned it.  

That meant something.  

But it still didn’t explain how Harry knew all these things.  

And May was going to find out.  

The opportunity came later that evening when Teddy was coloring in the living room.  

Harry was cleaning up dishes, rolling his sleeves up as he wiped down the counters. He didn’t even look up as he said, “You’re about to interrogate me, aren’t you?”  

May paused mid-sip of her coffee.  

“…What?”  

Harry finally turned, giving her a knowing smirk. “You’ve been watching me all afternoon. Teddy’s easy to distract, but you? You want answers.”  

May narrowed her eyes. “You really do know things.”  

Harry chuckled. “I try.”  

May crossed her arms. “Alright, since you’re expecting it—how does a sixteen-year-old orphan raise a child, cook like a professional, train like a soldier, and still have time to be the most responsible person I’ve ever met?”  

Harry didn’t answer right away.  

Instead, he leaned against the counter, expression unreadable.  

Then, finally, he sighed.  

“You know the official story, right?” he asked.  

May raised an eyebrow. “I know what the neighbors know. But I don’t know if I believe it.”  

Harry’s expression didn’t change.  

“Well, let’s see what you think after I tell you,” he said.  

Then, calmly, he gave her the official excuse he used for Muggles.    

“My parents died when I was a baby,” Harry said, voice even. “I was sent to live with my only remaining family—my aunt and uncle.”  

May felt her stomach tighten.  

Something about the way he said that felt too detached.  

Harry continued. “They… weren’t kind. I did all the housework, all the cooking. If something went wrong, it was always my fault. I was never really part of the family. They demanded perfection, if a single thing felt off, if the food I cooked wasn't up to the mark- even if it's above average and not perfect i was punished”.

May exhaled slowly, gripping her coffee cup tighter.  

Peter didn’t know about this.  

Harry wasn’t just an orphan. He had been neglected, worse by the sound of it, by his own relatives.  

And now he was raising Teddy? No wonder he was so determined to do everything right.  

Harry continued, voice calm like he was reciting facts instead of talking about his childhood.  

“I finally got out when I was eleven. I was accepted into a prestigious boarding school. Thought things would get better.” He gave a humorless chuckle. “I was wrong.”  

May stayed silent, waiting.  

“When I was 15, the school was attacked by a terrorist group” Harry said smoothly.  

May immediately tensed.  

“They were extremists,” he continued, tone casual but too controlled, like he’d told this story before. “They targeted students, took control of the school, we were caught in a conflict no one outside even realized was happening.”  

May stared at him, suddenly horrified.  

“And you?” she asked.  

Harry shrugged. “I survived.”

Not fought.  

Just survived.  

“And afterward?” she prompted.  

"British Intelligence got involved—MI6,” Harry said easily. “Since my school wasn’t officially recognized in normal records, it was easy to keep things quiet. After… everything, they recruited me as an informant. I didn’t work for them, but I helped with cleanup and intelligence where I could.”

May inhaled slowly.

She had no idea if this was true, but it was believable.

It explained why he moved like he did, why he knew self-defense and strategy, why he was always so in control.

But something still didn’t add up.

“…And they just let you go?” May asked.

Harry smirked slightly. “Eventually.”

That wasn’t a yes.

May tapped her fingers against the table. “So you were a child soldier?”

Harry’s expression flickered—just for a second.

Then he simply said, “Something like that.”

May’s stomach twisted.

And Peter doesn’t know.

Peter thought Harry was just some cool, talented guy. He had no idea that his mentor had spent his childhood fighting terrorists.

No wonder Harry had taken Peter under his wing.

He saw himself in Peter.

That scared her.

A Mother’s Instinct.

She exhaled. “Why are you telling me this?”

Harry raised an eyebrow. “Would you believe me if I said I trust you?”

May hesitated.

“…No.”

Harry laughed quietly. “Fair enough.”

Then his face turned serious. “I’m telling you because you’re important to Peter. I don’t want you to think I have some hidden agenda. He’s a good kid. He deserves to be taught properly.”

May studied him.

Everything about him screamed control, intelligence, strategy.

But then she thought about Teddy.

She thought about how soft Harry’s voice got when he spoke to him. About the way Teddy never doubted, not even for a second, that his father would always be there.

Harry had been a child soldier.

But he wasn’t raising one.(If only she knows)

And that, more than anything, made her believe him.

May exhaled. “You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?”

Harry smirked. “I’ve been told.”

She shook her head.

“You’re a good father,” she said quietly.

Harry actually froze for half a second.

Then, slowly, he smiled.

“…Thanks.”

And for the first time, May really understood him.

Before, May had simply thought of Harry Evans as the responsible kid raising a child too young. 

Now?  

She couldn’t look at him the same way.  

Knowing his past—his isolation, his childhood of housework and survival, the war he had fought as a teenager, and the way he had worked with MI6 afterward—made every little thing he did stand out differently.  

Before, she had thought he was just naturally mature.  

Now she saw it for what it was.  

A kid who had been forced to grow up too fast.

And Peter still had no idea.  

May decided to watch them carefully over the next few weeks.  

She didn’t change anything about how she acted, but she paid attention.  

It told her everything she needed to know.  

Peter admired Harry.  

That much had been obvious from the beginning. 

May didn’t know much about combat training, but she knew how to read people.   

But now, May watched Harry interact with Peter, knowing what he had been through, and she realized something—  

Harry wasn’t just teaching Peter how to fight.

He was teaching Peter how to win.  

“Okay, Parker,” Harry said, smirking as he stood across from Peter in the training space. “What’s the rule?”  

Peter groaned, shifting into a stance. “Think before I move.”  

Harry tilted his head. “And?”  

Peter sighed. “And don’t just dodge—control where my opponent goes.”  

Harry nodded approvingly. “Good. Now try again.”  

Peter launched himself forward, throwing a punch.  

Harry sidestepped at the last possible second, making Peter overextend just slightly—enough to throw off his balance.  

Then, with infuriating ease, he grabbed Peter’s wrist, twisted, and flipped him onto the mat.  

Again.  

Peter let out a pained groan.  

“I hate you.”  

“You love me,” Harry corrected, offering him a hand.  

Peter grumbled but took it anyway.  

May, watching from the side, raised an eyebrow.  

That was teaching Peter how to control a fight before it even started.  

Peter thought he was just learning to defend himself.

But Harry was making sure he never had to.

And Peter—oblivious, eager, and completely trusting—was eating up every word.  

May didn’t know what to think about that.  

He was training Peter to survive.

Question is survive from what? 

For all the ruthless efficiency in training, there were also moments that were…  

Ridiculously normal.  

And Peter loved every second of it.  

Teasing and Bickering  

“Move your feet, Parker,” Harry instructed as Peter attempted another set of drills.  

Peter huffed, shifting his stance. “I am moving them!”  

Harry tilted his head. “Are you?”  

Peter scowled. “What does that even mean?”  

“Exactly what I said.”  

May watched as Peter groaned loudly before lunging again.   

Harry sidestepped like it was nothing, reached out, and flicked Peter’s forehead mid-motion—just enough to throw him off balance.  

Peter tripped.  

Harry smirked.  

Peter, sprawled on the mat, pointed accusingly. “That was unnecessary”  

Harry shrugged innocently. “It was effective.”  

“I hate you.”  

“You say that a lot,” Harry mused. “Yet here you are.”  

May bit back a laugh.  

Because Peter was having fun.  

Harry wasn’t just training him—he was messing with him, poking fun, and giving him hell the way an older brother would.  

And Peter, despite all his complaints, was loving it.

Peter huffed loudly, dramatically flopping onto the couch.  

“I am starving.”  

Harry, sitting beside him, raised an eyebrow. “Then go make something.”  

Peter groaned. “But that takes effort.”  

Harry smirked, holding up a sandwich. “Good thing I made myself one, then.”  

Peter eyed it suspiciously. “...You wouldn’t happen to want to share, would you?”  

“Nope.”  

Peter sighed. “That’s fair.”  

Then, without warning, he lunged for the sandwich.  

Harry, completely unfazed, tilted it out of reach, causing Peter to nearly face-plant onto the couch.  

Teddy giggled from across the room.  

Peter gasped dramatically. “How dare you.”  

Harry took a slow, deliberate bite of his sandwich. 

Peter narrowed his eyes. “This is an act of war.”  

Harry, completely calm,kept chewing. “You don’t want this fight, Parker.”  

Peter grabbed a pillow and chucked it at him. 

It hit Harry directly in the face.  

Teddy burst into laughter.  

And May, watching from the kitchen, couldn’t stop smiling.  

Peter showed up at Harry’s place more and more.  

Not just for training, but just… because.  

He’d drop by after school, collapse onto the couch, and complain about homework while Harry sat beside him, silently reading.

Or he’d play video games with Teddy, laughing as the little boy cheated outrageously.  

Or he’d rant about school, grumbling about annoying teachers, while Harry listened with amused patience. 

Peter hadn’t had an older sibling before.    

That’s exactly what he had now.  

And Harry?  

For all his smirks and teasing?  

He liked it too.

May had already seen it, but now she saw it differently.  

Harry wasn’t just raising Teddy  

He was actively making sure that Teddy had everything he never did. 

And Teddy knew it.  (Somehow that genius toddler is much more intelligent than most pre teens)

One evening, when May was helping Teddy put away his toys, she had asked, “Teddy, what’s your favorite thing about your dad?”  

Teddy tilted his head, thinking.  

Then he said, very seriously, “He’s always there.”  

May’s breath caught slightly.  

She had been expecting something like pancakes or he tells funny stories.  

But no.  

To Teddy, the most important thing in the world was the fact that Harry was always there when he needed him.  

Harry had grown up without that.  

So now, he was making sure Teddy never had to feel alone.  

May exhaled slowly.  

And she realized something.  

Harry wasn’t just responsible because he had to be.  

He wasn’t just good at housework and cooking because he had been forced to do it.  

He was deliberate in everything he did.  

And even though it had come from trauma, survival, and years of fighting, he had turned it into something positive.  

That was rare.

Harry had given Peter guidance, protection, and a brotherly bond.  

He had given Teddy security, warmth, and a father’s love.  

It was time someone gave Harry something.  

And May Parker was going to make sure that he had a family too. 

It took Peter an embarrassingly long time to realize what Harry was trying to get him to do.

At first, he just kept dodging like normal.

But Harry was relentless.

He didn’t give Peter time to reset.

He kept up the pressure, constantly moving, constantly attacking, forcing Peter to react over and over again.

And Peter finally understood the problem.

He wasn’t controlling the fight.

Harry was.

Peter was just running away, avoiding getting hit but never turning the fight to his advantage.

So he started thinking.

Where do I want Harry to move?

He feinted left, saw Harry adjust—

There.

The next dodge, he moved just slightly differently—guiding Harry into a position where he had limited movement options.

Then—when Harry attacked again—Peter used his own momentum to force him sideways.

And for the first time—

Harry had to adjust at the last second.

It wasn’t much.

But Peter saw the flicker of approval in his expression before he flipped Peter onto his back again.

Peter groaned. “God, I hate you.”

Harry smirked. “That was better.”

Peter squinted at him. “I feel like you let me have that one.”

Harry didn’t confirm or deny.

Peter groaned again.

Harry just smirked and took another sip of water.

Peter flopped onto the ground, groaning. “I hate you.”

Harry leaned back. “You love me.”

Peter grumbled unintelligibly.

Peter wasn’t stupid.

He knew that Harry didn’t just know these things for no reason.

He knew Harry had experience, had seen and done things most people never would.

For now, he was just grateful to have him as a teacher.

Because for the first time, Peter was learning how to really fight.

And whether Harry knew it or not…

Peter was going to use everything he learned to keep people safe. 

(Just like Harry did-Even if Peter didn't know it.)