what if it's you, what if it's me, what if that's all that we need it to be

Kazi woke up with a sneeze. It was a little thing, barely a chuff of air, unnoticeable to anyone who wasn't looking for it. He hummed softly, resigning himself to a bad day. Whenever he woke up with a sneeze, it only got worse as the day progressed. He never liked taking antihistamines, the medicine clouding his brain is not exactly the best solution for a mafia leader. He never felt safe enough to let anything muddle his brain. His morning routine was sporadically interrupted by a small chuff of air, not really affecting him anyhow, yet inevitably stopping his movements.

Grabbing his coat, he hurried downstairs to meet the other tracksuits, and unsurprisingly found them bickering about whatever-it-is-that-he-didn't-care-about. He was slowly munching on his sandwich (he never really had an appetite when he's having a flare-up) while trying to nurse the headache that was building, when everyone suddenly quieted and parted like the red sea. Shoving his breakfast into his pocket, he sluggishly made his way next to Maya.

Concern graced Maya's features as she scrutinised Kazi. Kazi could only give her a tired, non-committal shrug before turning away from her and into the crook of his arm, his breath hitching once, twice, then a forceful yet quiet stifle.

"Bless you, bro," Tomas said.

"Need some tissues, bro?" Ivan offered, grabbing the box closest to him.

"I'm fine," Kazi whispered, sniffling and holding his knuckles to his nose.

Worry evident in her eyes, Maya turned to check on Kazi, only for him to wave her away and motion to the rest of the tracksuits. With one long look at him, Maya began her speech, while Kazi dutifully translated.

"A rival faction has emerged, threatening to under–"

His breath hitched uncontrollably yet periodically, once, twice, stifle.

"–undermine our authority and disturb our business. We cannot allow this– this–"

Once, twice, stifle.

Once, twice, stifle.

"–this insolence to go unanswered. We must de– demon–"

Once, twice, stifle.

"demonstrate our strength and make an example of those who dare– dare defy us."

Once he had finished his sentence, his weak body was overtaken by an intense fit, breath hitching once, twice, then his head jerking forward with a forceful yet quiet stifle.

Once, twice, stifle.

Once, twice, stifle.

Once, twice, stifle.

Once, twice, stifle.

Keeping his head buried in the crook of his arm, he breathed shakily, waiting to see if his fit had ended for now.

"Bro, you good?" Enrique asked.

"Fine," Kazi whispered hoarsely, putting his knuckles to his nose as he sniffled, delicately clearing his throat. He turned to Maya, expecting to translate more, but was met with her worry growing tenfold.

Rest, Kazi, Maya signed, and Kazi, in his disoriented state, almost translated this out loud, before realising what she said.

But, the meeting–

Can wait, Kazi. I'll wrap this up and come check on you in a second, alright? Hey, Maya softened seeing his confused puppy face, it'll be only us.

With that promise, Kazi nodded, exhausted, stumbling several times on his way back to his room.

Maybe it was the change in environment, or maybe it was because he was out of sight of the tracksuits, and they can't hear his soft, kitten sneezes. Whatever the reason, Kazi couldn't hold back his sneezes anymore. Covering the lower half of his face, sneeze after sneeze were ripped from him, his fatigued body jerking powerfully with every sneeze. He tried his best to stem the flood from his nose, but it quickly proved useless as he was overcome with another fit. One sneeze, a second, third, fourth, fifth–

A gentle hand on his shoulder stopped his fit for now. Blinking his tears away, he saw a blurred figure of a certain deaf mafia boss kneeling beside him. Tenderly taking his hand into her own, she began to clean up the mess Kazi had made. Unfortunately, by doing so, Maya's hair brushed his nose, causing his breath to start hitching. Refusing to let himself sneeze on Maya, he let out a string of strangled gasps. Sensing this, she quickly finished up and shoved a pile of tissues into now cleaned hands. Fits of soft, kitten sneezes intercepted with sharp, heaving breaths filled Kazi's room.

However calloused Maya's hands were, it laid tenderly on Kazi's shoulder as she gave him his antihistamines and a cup of warm tea. Shakily, Kazi downed the pills and listlessly sipped on his tea. Slowly but surely, his breathing calmed down, and, leaning against Maya, his eyelids gradually drooped. He would've fallen asleep if not for Maya's hand gently rubbing his back. He hummed softly in protest, content with falling asleep where he was. Hearing Maya's chuckle, he pried open his eyes and gazed lovingly at Maya. Maya grinned back, helping him back onto his bed and tucking him in. Just when she was about to leave, Kazi grabbed her wrist.

Stay? He signed. Maya looked back at his dishevelled curly hair, pink nose, cute pout, and–

Of course, she signed, sitting down next to him. How could she say no to that face?

Kazi hummed contentedly, hand grasped tightly with Maya's, a smile gracing his face as he drifted off to sleep.