Seth taps his fingers absentmindedly over Betamon's forehead, lost in thought as Luke sits next to him, staring at the screens. "So," he says after a moment.
"So," Luke responds, glancing over at him. "What are your thoughts?"
Seth exhales, glancing down at Betamon. His partner stares back at him and Seth looks back up. "I know that being a Digidestined isn't ever going to be completely safe," he says. "I've been hurt, everyone's been hurt in one way or another. We've lost our partners, and had to live with the uncertainty of if we'd ever see them again or not. I know there really isn't a lot we can do about that, but there are a lot of new digidestined whose partners are still young and unevolved."
Luke nods along. "Yes."
"We've tried bigger groups, and only splitting the digidestined up into two teams, but we still almost lost Mox and the others," Seth says, remembering all over again how it'd felt to finally find him and dig him free, finding him still alive, though beat up and weakened. "I think for now it's best if we just do away with splitting up the groups entirely."
Luke hums. "Alright. Is this permanent?"
"I don't think that's necessary," Seth says. "Just for now. While so many of the digidestined are inexperienced."
Luke looks appeased at this. "Alright," he says. "We'll need to run it by the other group leaders, but if they sign off on it, I'm agreeing with you that something needs to be done so try to keep something like that from happening again."
Seth nods. "Thank you."
By the end of the day, after discussions with Wade Barrett, Mox and Rob Stone, they all agree to the change in the missions. Only then does Seth relax, stroking his fingers over Betamon's forehead in a lazy motion, trying to settle down to sleep.
"I think this'll work out well," he tells him quietly. "I hope so, anyway."
"Me too," Betamon muses, nuzzling under Seth's jaw. "I think it will."
Seth smiles, closing his eyes. "You're the best, Betamon," he murmurs.