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Francis was the devil.
John was sure of it. He had lured John in until he couldn't go back without hurting someone and that someone happened to be both of them. Francis had sunk his teeth into John's life and wouldn't let go. And John sunk his into other people's. When Francis had loosened his hold, John ran to Martha. He held on to her even though he knew she'd be better off without him. And together they had a child. And when they had that child, John let go. And he ran away again.
He ran back home. He ran to war and fought until he couldn't fight anymore. He fought for freedom. He fought for honor. Alexander found him in the war, and while John didn't know it at the time, Alexander sunk his teeth in as well. John tried to keep away from Alexander with fear he'd ruin his life as well, but Alexander didn't seem to care. John warned him of the danger, and still, Alexander bit further. John eventually realized the marks, but he came to accept them. He sunk his teeth in as well.
But then it all came crashing down. John thought for sure Alexander would loosen his grip after marriage, but Alexander held on. John held harder, and bit further until he was sure Alexander would be done with him. And when that thought came to John, he loosened his hold. He went back to fighting and fought harder while Alexander bit further. Alexander could tell John loosened, and held tighter.
He held tighter until there was no one left to hold.
Francis was an angel.
Muller knew he was. What else could Francis be? Francis had swooped into his life and given Muller light. He pretended to be distant, but Muller knew he couldn't let go. So Muller didn't let go either. But Muller didn't bite, he was softer than that. Francis tried to bite, but when Muller didn't bite back, he just couldn't. It scared him at first; how could someone hold so tight and not give scars? Muller taught Francis not to bite, to simply hold. And they held on for years. But then Francis was gone. He left for his home, for a cause he didn't even believe in. He promised to come back, but then he married. And then he had kids. And Muller knew he wasn't coming back. But still, they both held on.
They held on even when Fritz had surely bit Muller too hard.
Muller had never once been bit so hard before. Bonstetten didn't bite; Francis had at first, but he never left scars. Fritz left scars all along Muller.
Scars even Francis couldn't heal.
Francis came back to Muller, and held on to him. Muller was sure he would've let go, but Francis held on. So Muller didn't let go either. Neither of them let go. They held on to each other for the rest of Muller's life.
And still they never bit.