Hey everyone! So I came across a few stories starring Whitley like the white death by Punkin1222313. And I realized that we really don't see a lot of Whitley in the show. People either don't think about him or think he's a douche.

Well, I wanted to write a story that took the concept of him being a good guy and run with it in my own way. I also read a story a long time ago where the main character had Whitley work on a farm and it humbled him. I can't remember the story but I liked seeing that.

BUT I got the idea of Whitley becoming like Theodore Roosevelt

So here we go, I wasn't sure how old Whitley would be, so if we're assuming Weiss is 17 by the start of Volume 1, lets assume hes at least Ruby's age, so he would be 8 by the time of Weiss's tenth birthday

Whitley had never felt so alone in his life. He may have been young but he wasn't stupid. He knew things had been different ever since Weiss's tenth birthday party. He may not have been there to witness what had happened. But he had heard the servants talk about the fight his parents had. At first he didn't want to believe it. But slowly he saw the changes in his mother and his father. His father had been cold and distant, almost like he had been acting the whole time. And his mother?

Well he could remember her coming into his room at night to tell him stories. And now he couldn't remember when she did that last. Winter had joined the Atlesian Military Academy. And Weiss had thrown herself into her studies and her training. Whitley however felt like he had nothing. His sisters were off doing their own thing, and his parents were so distant that it almost felt like the only person who cared for him was Klein. The butler would often do his best to cheer Whitley up after a long day. His father had been adamant about his studies. He had been harping on how important it was for Whitley to start studying the family business. Personally, he didn't see why his father had been do persistent, Whitley was the third child, and his sister was the heir.

And while he would have been excited to have the chance to prove himself to his father. Ever since the rumors of what happened between his parents had been confirmed by the obvious rift that had formed in the mansion, he couldn't bring himself to care the way he did before. What good was it in impressing your father if he only married your mother because of the family fortune?

He laid his head down on his books in frustration. He was sick of the constant studying. He couldn't even remember the last time he had done something fun. He just wanted to have a break.

"Good evening Master Whitley." Klein came in with a tray as Whitley looked up.

"Good Evening Klein..." Whitley said as he couldn't hide his disappointment.

"Problem?" Klein said as he sat the tray on Whitley's dresser.

"Just tired Klein...I'm tired." Whitley said as the smell of the food brought some life back into him.

The smell of Klein's beef and potato stew was enough to lift anyone's spirits. And it was just the thing he needed to help warm his soul from the cold atmosphere in the house.

"You've been saying that for weeks now." Klein said as Whitley thanked him for the food and took a bite.

"It's nothing to worry about Klein." He said as Klein immediately noticed he took a bite as soon as he finished his sentence.

"Master Whitley, you do know I've served your family since your sister was born right?" He asked as Whitley nodded just focusing on the food.

"Then you should know that I know EXACTLY when something is bothering you or your sisters." Klein said as Whitley stopped midbite.

He took the spoon out of his mouth as he lightly dabbed his lips with the napkin provided. The truth was that Klein was right. Something had been bothering him.

"I...I just don't know what to do Klein." He said as the butler lent an ear.

"I was hoping things would be fine after a few weeks, but nothing has been the same since Weiss turned 10. I wanted to believe that maybe Mother and Father were going to make up. But it almost seems like I never see mother anymore, and anytime father sees me he only asks about my studies. I can't even remember the last time I had a break from it all." He said as he could never hide his true feelings from Klein.

"Weiss has been distant as well, and Winter? I haven't seen Winter in so long. It feels like everything changed and everyone has moved on and I don't know where I fit in that!" He said the frustration from the past few weeks building up.

"I don't want to be like my father. I don't want to be stuck in these stupid board meetings talking about the price of dust! I thought I did, but the more he makes me study the more I can't stand it!" He said as he was sick of all the study materials on business.

Klein just continued to listen to the young man vent. He really needed this.

"It's just, for so long all I wanted was fathers approval. And I thought I could be just like him. But the more he pushes this on me, the more I can't help but want to get as far away from it as possible. I don't know why, but I just don't feel like this is what I want to do." He said as Klein thought it over.

"I just feel lost, I don't know what to do." Whitley finished as he wouldn't let himself cry.

Klein couldn't help but feel bad for the boy. He knew that Jacques had been known to pressure his children. It was one of the things that led to the blowup a few weeks ago. He had noticed already that Weiss and Winter had been set to go their own way. They may have played along with Jacques for now, but he had no doubt that they had their own path away from their father. Whitley was no different, he may not have been there to see what had caused the rift in the family. But he knew that the boy had heard the servants spread rumors. And he had seen how his parents had gotten colder over time. Whitley was just as lost as his other two siblings. The difference was he didn't know how he was going to deal with it.

Klein knew one thing for sure. Whitley was still a child, but he was being forced to study like a high school student. That was no way for a child to live. He needed something to breath life into him. Something to give him a goal. He then remembered he picked something up from a local bookstore.

"Master Whitley, I think you should take a break from your studying for a bit. Its clear you need some time to clear your head." Klein said as he closed the study materials on Whitleys desk.

"But father said I had to-" He was shushed by Klein.

"I'm sure your father wouldn't want you studying while you're sick."

Whitley got confused.

"But I'm not si-" He felt a finger hit his lips.

"Ah ah Master Whitley, you know your father will never come to check if you're sick, he's far too scared of germs." That made Whitley pause.

It was true, his father had an almost obsessive need to keep things clean. He wasn't sure if he was afraid of germs, but he had never been fond of checking on his sisters when they came down with a cold.

"Here, I was going to read this myself, but perhaps it would help you take your mind off studying for a bit." Klein gave him an old leather bound book.

"What is it?" Whitley said as he felt like he was being given an old tome.

"Oh just something your father would consider too beneath him. Should be a perfect getaway from studying." Klein smiled as he went to the door.

"Enjoy the rest of your meal Master Whitley, and if you need anything, just call me on the intercom." Klein said as he left the room.

Whitley always liked Klein. The man had a way of making you feel better even when you were at your lowest point. He took a look at the book he had given him. He walked over to his bed and laid down as he slipped the warm coco that Klein had brought him on the lunch tray.

He looked at the cover of it noticing it only held the title.

"Mornings on Horseback.'

He opened it and began to read

Alright there we go, that's the first chapter. Now, for those of you who are familiar with Theodore Roosevelt, you'll know that Mornings on Horseback is a book by David McCullough about Theodore Roosevelts early life.

Now obviously, TR himself is not going to exist in the RWBY universe. But I figured a book about a similar figure in Remnant could inspire Whitley.

The reason I think this will work is because while Whitley wasn't a sickly boy like TR was in the beginning, he is in a very rich lifestyle, so the idea of Whitley wanting to become the pinnacle of masculinity like Roosevelt himself is something I think would be great.

Hope you all enjoyed it!