li. LONDON BOUND.
February 19, 2018. | Third Person POV.
Frankfurt, Germany.

The air outside Frankfurt Airport was brisk, the kind of cold that clung to the skin even beneath layers of warmth. Sedona, wrapped snugly in her oversized Pikachu onesie, shuffled through the private terminal with a sluggishness that only came from a relentless tour schedule. London was next—Wembley Stadium, their eighth show so far—but right now, all she could think about was how much she needed sleep.

The air outside Frankfurt Airport was brisk, the kind of cold that clung to the skin even beneath layers of warmth Sedona felt as she was wrapped in her Pokémon onesie. The oversized hood, designed to look like Pikachu's ears, flopped slightly as she trudged the private terminal with a sluggishness that only came from a relentless tour schedule. London was next yet again—Wembley Stadium, their eighth show so far—but right now, all she could think about was how much she needed sleep.

A bottle of green iced tea was clutched in one hand, a can of Red Bull precariously balanced in the crook of her arm as she dragged her carry-on behind her.

Monica walked beside her, somehow looking put together despite the early morning, clad in an oversized hoodie and leggings, sipping from her coffee like she was the only sane one in this entire situation. 

"You look like a sleep-deprived child," Monica muttered, eyeing Sedona's onesie with mild amusement. 

Sedona yawned, barely mustering a response. "At least I'm warm." 

When they reached their meeting point near the private terminal, a familiar sight greeted them—Kendrick and his team, already gathered with their luggage, checking their phones or quietly chatting amongst themselves. 

But Sedona's tired eyes zeroed in on one person in particular. 

Kendrick stood slightly apart from the group, hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie, looking unfairly well-rested for someone who had to be up this early. His braids were pulled back into a loose ponytail, and he was dressed comfortably—gray sweatpants, a black hoodie, and a duffle bag slung over his shoulder.

The moment she reached his side, she exhaled dramatically and muttered, "In need of a nap."

Kendrick turned his head slightly, glancing at her from under his hood with a smirk. "You just woke up."

"And yet, here I am... dying."

Kendrick chuckled, shaking his head. Without a word, he reached out and gently tugged on one of the Pikachu ears hanging from her hood. The simple action sent a ripple of warmth through Sedona's sleep-deprived body—not that she'd ever admit it.

Monica, still sipping her coffee, side-eyed the interaction but wisely chose not to comment.

Instead of stopping there, though, Kendrick reached for her Red Bull, plucking it from the crook of her arm. Sedona gasped. "Excuse me?"

Kendrick only held it, completely unbothered. "You don't need this. It's unhealthy."

Sedona narrowed her eyes, stepping closer until she was practically in his space. "I absolutely need that. Give it back."

Kendrick grinned, holding it just out of reach. "Make me."

Without hesitation, Sedona flung her arms around his waist, resting her full weight against him with an exaggerated sigh. "Fine. I'll just cling to you until you give in."

Kendrick huffed a quiet laugh, easily adjusting to her sudden proximity, wrapping an arm around her shoulders like it was second nature. "This ain't exactly a punishment, D."

Sedona pouted but didn't let go. Instead, she sighed dramatically and nuzzled her head against his chest. "You're warm."

Kendrick smirked. "Uh-huh. So this is about the Red Bull and stealing my body heat?"

"Maybe."

Monica groaned. "Oh my god, it's too early for this."

Dave, standing beside her, simply shook his head with an amused chuckle. "They really don't care, huh?"

"Not even a little."

The airport was practically empty at this hour, the perks of private travel meaning they didn't have to worry about crowds or prying eyes. And honestly? Who was going to check two grown adults for being affectionate?

Kendrick, still holding the Red Bull hostage, kissed the top of Sedona's head before finally handing it back. "Fine. But don't come crying to me when you crash later."

Sedona smirked, victorious, and cracked it open—only to pull another Red Bull from her hoodie pocket moments later. She held it up with a smug grin. "You really thought you had me."

Kendrick stared at her in disbelief before laughing. "You got issues."

Monica sighed. "Again, too early for this."

Sedona ignored her, taking a victorious sip of her drink before reaching for Kendrick's hand, intertwining their fingers as they moved toward the security checkpoint.

Dave shook his head. "They really act like no one else is here."

Monica sighed. "I know. It's disgusting."

But neither of them looked away. Because as much as they liked to complain, there was something undeniably entertaining about watching Sedona and Kendrick be completely in their own world.

The group moved through security smoothly—one of the perks of private travel. Sedona barely registered the process, floating somewhere between consciousness and exhaustion as she followed the others. 

By the time they reached the jet, she was dragging her feet, mumbling something about capitalism and how flights shouldn't be allowed to take off before 10 AM. 

Kendrick, walking beside her, gave her a knowing look. "You good?" 

She yawned, gripping her Red Bull. "Define good." 

Kendrick huffed a quiet laugh before gesturing toward the steps leading into the plane. "C'mon, Pika." 

Sedona squinted at him. "Did you just—" 

"Call you Pika? Yeah." 

She stared at him for a long moment before sighing. "Fine. I'll allow it." 

—

The moment Sedona settled into her seat, she curled up against the window, pulling the hood of her onesie over her head as she prepared to drift off. The hum of conversation from Kendrick's team faded into background noise as her body relaxed. 

For a while, she dozed in and out of sleep, head occasionally tilting against the window or her seatbelt. Every now and then, she felt movement beside her, signaling that Kendrick had taken the seat next to hers. 

It wasn't until about an hour into the flight that she stirred fully, stretching with a groggy groan before blinking at the overhead lights. 

Kendrick, who had been quietly listening to music, noticed her movement and pulled an earbud out. "Finally alive?" 

Sedona squinted at him before pulling out her Nintendo Switch from her bag. "Barely. But I need something to keep me from sleeping through this whole flight." She turned her screen toward him. "You tryna play Mario Kart?" 

Kendrick raised an eyebrow. "You sure you wanna do that? Don't need you throwing a tantrum when you lose." 

Sedona gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. "Excuse me? That sounds like fightin' words." 

Kendrick smirked. "Just sayin'." 

Sedona narrowed her eyes before shoving the Switch into his hands. "Pick your character, Lamar." 

Kendrick chuckled but did as he was told, selecting Yoshi while Sedona, naturally, chose Princess Peach. 

The first race started smoothly—Sedona focused, Kendrick relaxed but attentive. 

Then, chaos ensued. 

Sedona cackled as she launched a red shell at him just before he could cross the finish line. "Hold that!" 

Kendrick groaned, leaning back in his seat. "That's dirty." 

"All's fair in love and Mario Kart." 

In the next round, Kendrick got his revenge, using a well-timed lightning bolt to shrink Sedona's character right before she could secure first place. 

She gaped at him, scandalized. "Oh, you did not just do that." 

Kendrick smirked. "Guess you gotta hold that." 

For the next hour, they went back and forth, trading wins and losses, their banter filling the space between them. 

At some point, Monica turned from her seat across the aisle and gave them both a dry look. "Y'all are loud." 

Sedona, gripping her controller dramatically, shot back, "This is war, Monica." 

Kendrick nodded solemnly. "Facts." 

Monica rolled her eyes and went back to scrolling through her phone. 

The conversation soon shifted.

Despite her exhaustion, Sedona latched onto whatever Kendrick was talking about. Whether it was his parents, his siblings, or music, she listened with quiet attentiveness, her expression soft and engaged.

A twinkle settled in her eye as she rested her chin on her hand, watching him. Then, out of nowhere, she asked, "You think your parents gon' like me?"

Kendrick paused, processing the question before offering an honest, yet reassuring answer. "My mom? Yeah. She gon' love you—after she hits you with a hundred questions about your life. My pops... he's cool, but he doesn't warm up to people quickly. Give him time, though. He'll see what I see."

Sedona absorbed that, nodding slightly before flipping the question back. "Honestly, do you think my parents would like you?"

"Would they?" Kendrick tilted his head, waiting for her answer.

She let out a small, nostalgic smile. "My dad would've loved you."

Kendrick caught the slight shift in her voice when she said would've.

She continued, "As for my mom... she'll like you. To the point where she'll pull out every damn baby picture in the house."

That thought alone made Kendrick chuckle. "Oh word? That's what I'm in for?"

"Mhm."

For a moment, a new idea lingered between them. The idea of their parents meeting. Of letting them know this—them—was real.

It wasn't just for show, not some publicity stunt like the Grammys. The thought settled between them, unspoken but understood.

And as the plane continued its journey to London, toward Wembley, toward another night on stage, the weight of that realization felt... right.

—

By the time they touched down in London, Sedona felt wrecked.

The eight-hour flight from Frankfurt had done her dirty—her legs were stiff, her back ached in places she didn't even know could ache, and despite downing two Red Bulls, she was running on fumes. 

She didn't even care about looking cute when they landed. Hood still up, she dragged herself through Heathrow Airport behind Kendrick and the rest of their team, her body moving on autopilot. 

Monica, on the other hand, looked fresh as hell, like she had just stepped off a private jet in a music video. "You chose to play Mario Kart instead of sleeping," She reminded Sedona with zero sympathy. 

Sedona mumbled something unintelligible into her hoodie sleeve. 

Kendrick chuckled beside her. "What was that?" 

"I said... suffer in silence."

Dave, rolling his suitcase beside them, snorted. "She's in full zombie mode." 

Sedona groaned. "I hate long flights." 

"You're the one who said, and I quote, 'Nah, I'll be fine. I'm built different,'" Kendrick teased. 

She side-eyed him. "Well, 'built different' is struggling right now." 

Kendrick draped an arm over her shoulders, pulling her into his side. "I got you. Just make it to the car, and you can pass out." 

"Bet." 

—

As soon as they got into the blacked-out Sprinter van waiting for them outside, Sedona collapsed onto Kendrick's lap like a ragdoll. 

"Yup, she's out," Monica said, shaking her head. 

Kendrick smirked, adjusting his position so Sedona was comfortable. He ran his fingers through her curls absentmindedly, feeling the way she relaxed further into him. 

"You really let her drink two Red Bulls just to crash this hard?" Dave asked. 

Kendrick chuckled. "She's a little stubborn." 

"A little?" 

Sedona, eyes still closed, mumbled, "Y'all talkin' 'bout me like I ain't here." 

"Do something about it then," Monica challenged. 

Sedona lifted her hand just enough to flip Monica off before letting it flop back down. 

Monica rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that's what I thought." 

Despite the exhaustion weighing down on her, Sedona forced her eyes open as they drove through the streets of London. She was tired, but there was always something about arriving in a new city that made it worth it. 

The skyline, the people, the feeling of being somewhere different—it was electric. 

And tomorrow, they'd be at Wembley Stadium. 

Kendrick leaned down slightly, murmuring against her temple, "You good?" 

She exhaled slowly, letting her body fully relax. 

"I am now."

—

By the time they reached their hotel, Sedona wasn't even sure how she was still functioning. 

The five-star suite was gorgeous—floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the London skyline, plush furniture, a massive king-sized bed calling her name—but none of it mattered. The only thing she cared about was sleep. 

As soon as Kendrick swiped the key card and opened the door, she trudged inside, dropped her bag in the middle of the floor, and face-planted onto the bed. 

Kendrick laughed as he shut the door behind them. "Damn, you ain't even take your shoes off first?" 

Sedona mumbled something into the pillow. 

"What?" 

She turned her head slightly, voice muffled. "I said... wake me up in three to five business days." 

He shook his head, amused, before sitting on the edge of the bed to unlace her sneakers. "Nah, you sleep too long, you gon' wake up at 2 a.m. and be mad wired." 

"Don't care. Worth it." 

Kendrick tugged off her second shoe, then climbed onto the bed beside her. "C'mon, at least change into something comfortable." 

Sedona groaned dramatically but forced herself to sit up. She reached into her suitcase, pulled out one of Kendrick's old T-shirts she had stolen, and sleepily changed into it. 

The conversation naturally deepened as they lounged on the couch, the city lights casting a soft glow through the window.

"You ever get tired of this?" Sedona asked suddenly, her voice quiet but laced with curiosity.

Kendrick glanced at her. "Of what?"

"Being on the move all the time. City to city, different time zones, all that."

He exhaled, rubbing a hand over his chin. "It gets exhausting, yeah. But I love it. I worked too hard to get here, so I remind myself that this—the travel, the shows, everything—it's part of the dream."

Sedona nodded, hanging onto every word. That was one of the things she admired about him—his mindset, the way he never let the weight of it all kill his love for the craft.

Kendrick turned to her. "Why? You tired of me already?"

She smirked. "You, no. These damn flights? Absolutely."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I told you to sleep on the plane."

Sedona hummed, stretching her arms over her head. "I tried, but somebody kept stealing my Red Bull."

"Hey, you had another one," He pointed out.

"And that's why I stay prepared," She said, tapping her temple.

Kendrick just shook his head, laughing to himself.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence before Sedona spoke up again, this time her voice a little softer. "So, I, uh... went down a rabbit hole a while back."

Kendrick arched a brow. "Yeah?"

She smirked sleepily. "Came across your old stuff. Back when you were calling yourself K-Dot."

Kendrick let out a groan. "Man, don't tell me you was listening to that."

"I was, and honestly? It was dope. But also..." She giggled, leaning into him. "Kinda cute."

He side-eyed her. "Cute?"

"Yeah. Like, young, hungry, tryna prove yourself." She paused, resting her chin on his shoulder. "But also, the bars were there. Like, you been him."

That made Kendrick smile, shaking his head. "You gon' have me listening back to those old mixtapes now."

"I support it," She murmured, her voice growing drowsier by the second.

Then, suddenly, she perked up just enough to add, "Speaking of mixtapes, that song alone. I just wonder what was the thought process."

Kendrick frowned in confusion. "What song?"

She bit her lip, fighting a smile. Then, in the most dramatic voice she could muster through her exhaustion, she announced, "Bitch, I'm in the Club."

Kendrick groaned again, already knowing where she was going with this. "Man, don't even start—"

"Nah, nah, 'cause Bitch, I'm in the Club?" Sedona giggled, barely able to get the title out. "You had faith in this track and that's all imma say."

Kendrick sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Look, I was young, outside, tryna make something shake—"

Sedona cut him off with a tired laugh, mimicking a dramatic announcer's voice. "And this is my single!"

He chuckled, rubbing his face. "A'ight, you got it."

She snorted, eyes barely open as she continued, "You was real confident about that one, huh?"

Kendrick smirked. "You must've liked it if you listened all the way through."

"Liked it? Nah. Amused? Absolutely." She yawned, sinking deeper into his side. "But, for real, I can hear the growth. You was just a baby rapper tryna figure it out."

Kendrick shook his head, chuckling. "I was serious about my craft, though."

She hummed. "Oh, I know. And look at you now."

There was something so soft about the way she said it like she was proud. It made him glance down at her, only to find her eyes fluttering shut, exhaustion finally winning.

Kendrick sighed, a small smile playing on his lips. "You funny, man."

Sedona mumbled something incoherent, already halfway asleep.

Kendrick felt the weight of her head pressing against him a little more. He glanced down, catching the way her lashes fluttered as she tried to fight sleep.

But as Sedona grew sleepier, her tired mind knew the conversation would drift into her usual late-night babbling. Kendrick could always tell when she was past exhausted—her filter disappeared, and she started saying whatever came to mind.

"You know what?" She murmured, shifting slightly against him.

Kendrick glanced down at her. "What?"

"I'mma start calling you Shorty."

He frowned. "Shorty?"

"Yeah, 'cause you short."

Kendrick scoffed, shaking his head. "I'm not that short."

Sedona peeked up at him with a lazy grin. "I'm taller."

Kendrick rolled his eyes. "By an inch."

She giggled, her voice barely above a whisper. "Still taller. You love you some tall women."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You not even tall for real."

"I'm taller than you," She sing-songed sleepily, clearly amused with herself. "And you didn't deny liking tall women."

Kendrick just sighed, amused. "A'ight, whatever you say."

Her words slowed, her breathing evening out as sleep finally pulled her under. Kendrick just shook his head, watching her for a moment before muttering, "Rest well, trouble."

And with that, she was out.

—

Sedona stirred, blinking as the dimly lit room came into focus. She was met with silence—the kind that only came when she was truly alone. A quick glance around confirmed it: Kendrick wasn't there. 

She stretched, pushing herself up on her elbows, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. He must've left quietly to let her rest and get himself situated. She appreciated it, but the nap had only done so much. Her body still felt heavy from the long-haul flight, and her stomach was definitely protesting the lack of food. 

Swinging her legs over the bed, she grabbed her phone and checked the time. She had no idea how long she'd been out, but judging by the sky outside, it had been a minute. Sighing, she got up and headed straight for the bathroom, desperately needing a shower. 

The hot water worked wonders, easing the stiffness in her limbs and washing away the grogginess that still clung to her. After wrapping her hair, she slipped into a simple pair of shorts, an oversized graphic tee, and her favorite fuzzy socks before settling onto the bed with her phone in hand. 

First order of business: food. 

She scrolled through the hotel's room service menu, finally settling on a burger and fries. Simple, filling, and exactly what she needed after surviving on a Red Bull and a plane breakfast hours ago. She placed the order, then leaned back against the pillows, exhaling deeply. 

Not long after, a knock on the door pulled her attention. 

"Room service," The voice called. 

She got up, opening the door just enough to grab the tray before setting it on the nearby table. Before she could even take a bite, another knock followed—this time, Monica. 

Sedona opened the door again, stepping aside as Monica strolled in. 

"You good?" Monica asked, eyeing her. 

Sedona nodded, flopping back onto the bed. "Tired as hell, but I'll live." 

"Well, get your energy up. Tomorrow's show day." Monica plopped down in the chair across from her, pulling out her phone. "I was gonna go over some things with you before we head to Wembley." 

Sedona groaned playfully. "Lemme eat first before you hit me with all that." 

Monica smirked. "Fine. But don't take too long." 

Sedona grabbed her phone while reaching for a fry, realizing she had just enough time to check in on someone. She tapped Ezekiel's contact, making sure to account for the time difference between London and Atlanta. After a few rings, her younger brother's face appeared on the screen. 

"Look who finally remembered I exist," Ezekiel teased. 

Sedona rolled her eyes. "Boy, don't start. I just got settled." 

He smirked. "Mmhmm. Anyway, what's up?" 

"Not much, just trying to shake off this flight. Eight hours is no joke." 

Ezekiel let out a mock gasp. "Damn, eight? Couldn't be me." 

She chuckled, popping another fry into her mouth. "Yeah, yeah. What you been up to?" 

"Same old, same old." He squinted at the screen. "You look beat. Like got ran over three times—beat." 

"Thanks," She deadpanned. 

He grinned. "Just saying. So... you're on tour with Kendrick Lamar now." 

Sedona smirked, already knowing where this was going. 

Ezekiel leaned in. "How's that like?" 

She huffed out a laugh. Of course, he'd ask. He was a fan of Kendrick's music.

Sedona smirked, chewing on a fry as she eyed her brother through the screen. "Oh, now you wanna ask about my job? Not the whole eight-hour flight, not the jet lag—just Kendrick?" 

Ezekiel shrugged. "I mean... yeah. You know I rock with his music. So what's it like?" 

She exhaled dramatically, pretending to think. "Honestly? Terrible. He's so annoying." 

Ezekiel's eyes widened. "Ain't no way." 

"I'm serious! Stealing my Red Bulls, cheating in Mario Kart—" 

"Hold up, hold up. He cheated in Mario Kart?" 

She nodded solemnly. "Messed with my controller mid-race. Real childish behavior." 

Ezekiel burst out laughing. "Damn, that's crazy. You let him win?" 

"Never that." Sedona took another bite of her food. "I had a backup Red Bull, though. Thought I was down bad, but I had a plan all along." 

Ezekiel shook his head, still laughing. "You stay plotting. But for real, though—outside of the cheating, what's he like?" 

Sedona leaned back against the pillows, her expression softening. "He's... dope. He's real laid back, but when it comes to his music? Whole different level of focus. It's inspiring, honestly. Makes me wanna go harder." 

Ezekiel nodded, taking in her words. "That's what I figured. Dude's an incredible." 

"That he is," She agreed, stretching her legs out. 

"So, like... y'all cool like that?" He asked, squinting at her. "The Grammy picture didn't go unnoticed. My homeboys couldn't stop bothering me about it."

Sedona raised a brow. "Like what?" 

"You know what I mean." 

She snorted, shaking her head. "Ain't nobody worried about all that." 

Ezekiel hummed, unconvinced. "Mm. Alright, if you say so." 

Before she could respond, Monica cleared her throat, reminding Sedona she was still very much in the room. 

"Not to interrupt this very interesting conversation," Monica teased, "but we do have a concert to prep for." 

Sedona sighed, already knowing what was coming. "Yeah, yeah. Business calls." 

Ezekiel smirked. "Alright, I'll let you go, Syd. Just don't forget us regular folks since you all famous-famous." 

She rolled her eyes. "Boy, bye." 

Ezekiel chuckled before ending the call, leaving Sedona to face Monica, who was already pulling up notes on her phone. 

"Alright, let's go over tomorrow." 

Sedona exhaled deeply, grabbing another fry. It was gonna be a long night.

Monica sat down across from Sedona, already in work mode as she scrolled through her phone. "Okay, so tomorrow's schedule is tight. Soundcheck is at noon, and you've got an interview with BBC Radio after your set. After that, you get a small break before wardrobe and final prep for the show at Wembley." 

Sedona chewed her fry slowly, processing. "Noon soundcheck... what time do I gotta be up?" 

"Nine," Monica said without hesitation. 

Sedona groaned, flopping back onto the bed. "That's disrespectful. I just got here." 

"Jet lag don't stop the bag, sis," Monica quipped. "Plus, this is Wembley Stadium. Sold out. No pressure, though." 

Sedona peeked up at her through lidded eyes. "You love stressing me out, huh?" 

Monica grinned. "I live for it." 

Sedona sighed, knowing there was no arguing. "Alright, alright. What else?" 

"Setlist is locked in, but we need to go over transitions and cue marks with the band before the show," Monica continued.

"Alright." Sedona hummed with a small smile. 

Monica stood, stretching. "Alright, I'ma let you rest. You need it." 

Sedona waved her off. "I'll be fine. Just gotta—" She yawned mid-sentence, immediately proving herself wrong. 

"Mhmm," Monica said, unimpressed. "I'll see you in the morning." 

As soon as the door closed, Sedona exhaled deeply, the exhaustion finally creeping in again. She grabbed her phone, scrolling mindlessly for a few minutes before eventually setting it aside. 

The hotel room was quiet now, dimly lit by the lamp on the nightstand. She thought about Kendrick, wondering if he was back in his room or out. 

Before she could dwell on it too much, her eyes grew heavier, and within minutes, sleep finally pulled her under. 

Tomorrow was going to be a big day.

—

©kashdemi
Volume I- Redamancy.
Chapter Fifty-one.
— ０２／１６／２５
———————

Filler.

Thoughts on the chapter? Thoughts on their growing relationship? And what do you expect for the next one?

Stay tuned for the next chapter, & til next time!
-shea