Author's note: I like gender swaps sometimes, so I changed Steve's gender. Stephanie Rogers is played by Amanda Seyfried.
"This is the third time this week!" Stephanie Rogers, also known as Captain America, yelled as the Hulk tore up the trees surrounding Avengers Tower.
Stephanie had fair skin, long straight blonde hair that was parted in the middle, and blue eyes. Her body was toned and lean, strong but feminine. She was wearing a white t-shirt underneath an unzipped brown leather jacket, dark blue denim jeans, and brown ankle-length leather boots with flat heels.
Stephanie Grace Rogers was the first ever female military officer. Dr. Abraham Erksine's legendary serum had failed on every male participant the Super Soldier Program had. She had tried volunteering for the U.S. Army countless times, disguised as a man. She had been rejected every single time, until Erksine gave her the chance of a lifetime. It was a last-ditch effort, only approved because Howard Stark had agreed with Erksine that the serum may be failing due to the need of a genetic marker that most men lacked. No one thought the serum would actually work on the tiny, frail girl from Brooklyn with scraped knees, and they definitely didn't foresee her becoming a hero.
After the U.S. government turned her into a glorified chorus girl for over a year, Stephanie had gone against orders and snuck behind enemy lines on a mission to save a captured unit. She saved 137 soldiers, including her best friend, Sergeant James Buchanan 'Bucky' Barnes. That group went on to become the Howling Commandos. With the help of Stephanie's good friend, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Margaret 'Peggy' Carter, they took down the Nazi organization HYDRA, led by Johann Schmidt, also known as the Red Skull. After Schmidt's defeat, Bucky fell off a train and Stephanie crashed a plane into the Artic.
"Yeah." Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, sighed. "I'm activating Code Banner."
"What does that mean?" Stephanie questioned, but Tony was already walking away, his cell phone pressed against his ear.
Hulk's rampage continued into the night.
The next morning, a car pulled up to the tower, and Bruce's younger sister, Katherine Banner got out.
Katherine was a good friend of Tony's and a scientist like Bruce.
"Hi, Dr. Banner." Tony greeted.
"Hi, Tony." Katherine pulled Tony into a hug. "Where's Bruce?"
"In the forest," Tony said.
"Keep everyone away. This might get worse before it gets better." Katherine said, making her way through the tower.
Katherine had lightly tanned skin, long straight brown hair that was parted in the middle and gathered behind her ears in a braid, brown eyes, and a slender figure. She was wearing a red button down shirt with long sleeves tucked into the waistband of black dress pants with slim fit legs and black loafers.
"Roger that," Tony said, handing Katherine a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. He stopped at the exit. She continued walking, making her way to the forest.
"Hulk!" Katherine shouted.
No response.
Katherine continued walking, following the sounds of rage and destruction.
"Stop!" Katherine yelled.
Hulk roared at Katherine.
"Oh, is that how it's going to be? Are you going to hit me? Like our father did?" Katherine asked.
Katherine knew the Hulk would never hurt her.
Hulk shrunk back, moving away from Katherine, putting his hands up where she could see them.
"Hulk sorry," Hulk whispered.
"It's okay. I know you wouldn't really hurt me. I just needed you to calm down," Katherine said.
"Why you here?" Hulk asked.
"Tony called. He said you've been making more and more appearances recently." Katherine said.
"Hulk bored in puny Banner," Hulk said.
"What if I promise to hang around for a while? Will you let Bruce run things?" Katherine asked. Hulk thought about it, nodded, and then transformed into Bruce.
Katherine tossed Bruce the clothes and turned around while he put them on.
"Why are you here?" Bruce asked.
"Tony called. He told me of your recent troubles," Katherine said.
"Oh," Bruce said.
"I promised Hulk I would hang around for a while," Katherine said.
"There's an extra room in my apartment you can use." Bruce said. "You can turn around. My clothes are on."
"It's good to see you!" Katherine smiled, pulling Bruce into a hug.
"I've missed you," Bruce murmured as he pulled away from his sister. "I'm glad you're staying."
"Come on, let's get you to your room. You look exhausted," Katherine said, putting an arm around Bruce.
"Yeah, sleep sounds nice," Bruce murmured.
Bruce and Katherine started walking back to the tower. The rest of the team crowded outside, staring at the two of them.
"I'm staying," Katherine said to Tony as she passed the Avengers.
Once Katherine and Bruce got inside the tower, she heard Bucky murmur, "Who is that?"
"Katherine Banner," Tony said.
Katherine had been at Avengers Tower for a few months now, and during that time, she had developed a crush on Bucky. But every time she tried to ask him out, he would assume she meant it as a group thing and invite Stephanie and Sam. Bruce thought it was hilarious.
"Hey, Bucky, do you want to go see a movie tomorrow?" Katherine asked.
"Sure, Doll! I'll see if Stephanie and Sam want to go. What time works for you and Bruce?" Bucky asked.
"Seven," Katherine said through gritted teeth. She looked over at Bruce, who was smirking into his cup of coffee.
Bucky nodded and left the room, probably going to find Stephanie and Sam.
"I don't know if he doesn't like me like that or if he's just that dense," Katherine murmured as Bruce sat down next to her.
"Be patient. He has been through a lot," Bruce said, slinging his arm over her shoulder.
"I know." Katherine sighed, leaning her head on Bruce's shoulder.
"I-I can't keep doing this!" Bucky stammered. "I'm in love with a married woman. How the hell did this happen?"
"That's rough, man," Sam said.
"She's just so amazing!" Bucky sighed, sitting against the wall.
"I don't get why she's just coming around now. Bruce never mentioned her before." Sam said.
"He was probably just trying to keep her safe," Stephane said.
Stephanie's hair was tied up in a high ponytail. She was wearing a light blue denim shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, dark blue denim jeans, and beige ankle-length leather boots with flat heels.
"Oh, shit. If Bruce finds out, he's going to let Hulk rip me in two," Bucky whispered.
"Sucks to be you!" Sam snorted.
Tony had decided to throw a Christmas party at the tower.
Katherine was under the mistletoe. That was how desperate she had become. She was hoping Bucky would stand next to her, they would kiss, and she could confess her feelings.
Bruce was standing next to Tony and watching his sister, trying not to laugh.
Bucky came to stand beside Katherine. "Hey Doll."
"Hi, Bucky." Katherine greeted. There was a moment of awkward silence. She saw Bruce murmur something to Tony.
Tony's voice came from across the room. "Hey, Barnes, see that stuff above your head? That's mistletoe. That means you and Katherine have to kiss."
Katherine looked down at the floor, blushing.
Katherine's hair was tied up in a braided bun. She was wearing a red knee-length dress with long sleeves and red high-heeled pumps.
"I-I don't think that's a good idea," Bucky said, moving away from Katherine.
"Why the hell not?" Tony questioned.
"I don't make a habit of kissing other men's wives," Bucky murmured.
"Wait, what?" Katherine questioned.
"You're married to Bruce," Bucky said, gesturing to Bruce, who was bent over laughing.
"Bruce is my brother." Katherine said.
"Bruce is your brother?" Bucky echoed.
"This is absolutely hilarious! She has been going crazy trying to get you to agree to a date!" Bruce guffawed.
"Those times you asked me to hang out, you meant you wanted to go on a date?" Bucky asked Katherine.
"Yeah. I...Um...I have a huge crush on-" Katherine got cut off when Bucky's lips met hers.
"Want to ditch the rest of the party and go to dinner?" Bucky asked when the two of them broke apart.
"I'd love that," Katherine said, grabbing Bucky's hand and walking out of the tower with him.
"I can't believe you thought Bruce was my husband," Katherine said.
"Well, what was I supposed to think? Tony introduced you as Katherine Banner. What other explanation was there?" Bucky asked.
"How many of you-" Katherine started.
"All of us. We all thought it." Bucky said.
"You could have asked!" Katherine chuckled.
"Yeah, that would have saved us a lot of time. I've wanted to ask you out for months," Bucky murmured.
"I've been asking you out for months!" Katherine exclaimed.
"Well, let's not waste any more time," Bucky said, pulling her in for another kiss.
Bucky and Katherine were cuddling in the living room of the tower and watching a movie. Tony, Bruce, Thor, Natasha, Clint, Sam, Wanda, and Vision passed by them, heading towards the garage.
Stephanie came into the living room.
"Suit up, Bucky." Stephanie ordered. "We're leaving for Denmark in ten minutes."
Stephanie's hair was gathered behind her ears in a braid. She was wearing a blue jumpsuit with long sleeves, a white star in the middle of the chest, and red and white vertical stripes on the abdomen tucked into red knee-length leather boots with flat heels, a blue utility belt around her hips, red elbow-length leather gloves, and a small, rounded red mask covering only her eyes and the space between them. Her red, white, and blue circular shield was strapped to her back with a harness.
Bucky untangled himself from Katherine and stood up from the couch. He was about to go to his bedroom and get ready for the mission, but she grabbed his hand, stopping him from leaving.
"Be careful," Katherine said.
Katherine had left her hair down. She was barefoot and wearing a grey sweater and black leggings.
"I always am, Doll," Bucky said.
THE END