How to allow clicks to affect an element in addition to the elements below it?

Question

I know that the CSS pointer-events: none; makes elements beneath clickable. But it disables clicks on the top element.

How can I have a single click affect the entire "stack" of elements?

Or at least, the element in question, as well as the element immediately below it.

I did a lot of searching but it seems everyone asking about clicking through elements, is not interested in having the top element recognize the click also.