"The Joker's going to kill us both for that," Arnold said.
"And I thought Ivy gave the kisses of death," Harley replied. Arnold noticed how much more joy was in her tone shortly after she was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Thank you Harley. This is somewhat embarrassing, but that was my first kiss."
"You must've been lucky in the Arkham showers then." Harley and Arnold laughed. Arnold then stood silent trying to say something he's been meaning to say for years.
"I…I don't think I have to tell you this. I mean, I think you already know, but…"
"I love you too Arny." Arnold's head rose up with joy and his sense of nervousness vanished.
"Then let's run away together. We can have those normal lives away from all this chaos and cruelty. We can be happy."
"I can't Arny. I'm with Mista J. We're too peas in a puddin'. I can't just leave him."
"You have every right to leave someone who treats you like that."
"He doesn't mean me any harm. He loves me." Arnold sighed.
"Okay," he slowly began. "I'm going to tell you something I've never told anyone. You know how I said I've been pushed around throughout my childhood. Well it was not just at school. My father did things that would even scare the bullies. I loved him, but I was scared of him. He usually took out his aggression on my mother. He would act like he loved her, and there's a chance he did. But she was miserable and I didn't have to courage to intervene. He convinced her that they belong together, but I knew she would be happy with a man who treated right. I think she knew it too, yet she had no more courage than me."
Arnold fought to hold back tears and Harley could see it in his face. She stayed silent for almost two minutes, now having her moment of clarity.
"You're right." Harley began to cry again. "He kills his henchmen constantly. I'm gonna be next. I can't stay like this."
"So please Harley, come with me. We can leave this life behind and be happy. It's our second chance – our new life." Harley lifted her head up from her arms again and looked Arnold straight in his eyes.
"Let's do it! We'll have the most adorable kids. But I just need a promise from you."
"Of course," Arnold replied. "What is it?"
"I need you to leave the puppet behind. If I'm going to accept reality, so are you. You have to face that Scarface is not real." Arnold paused, but not as long as either would have expected after that request.
"Okay, we have a deal. Let's leave tomorrow morning." Harley quickly gave Arnold a hug.
"Thank you! We'll be so happy together."
Harley and Arnold spent the next hour planning out their escape. They agreed to meet at the pier at noon, where Harley would bring a car and some money that she planned to steal from the Joker. Arnold slept in one of the offices at the chemical plant.
"Arny wake up," Harley urged.
Arnold opened his eyes and saw Harley's face in front of his. She had the perfect smile that he wanted to see until he dies. He was immediately reminded of what happened the previous night and was overjoyed to discover it was not a dream.
"Wakey wakey sleepy-head," Harley greeted.
Arnold looked at the clock. It almost 8:00 a.m. They planned for Arnold to wake up early and leave the chemical plant before anyone else would see him sleeping there.
"I should be a lot more tired," he said. Arnold got out of bed. He noticed Harley was holding something behind her back.
"I brought him for you." Harley revealed that she was holding Scarface. She handed him to Arnold. Harley previously agreed to bring Scarface back to Arnold so he could say goodbye to him before they leave. As soon as Arnold touched him, Scarface started shouting.
"Dummy, you shithead! You're gonna puss out with this dumb bitch! I'll…" Arnold quickly put his hand over Scarface's mouth.
"Terribly sorry," he said. "It won't happen again."
"I'm sure it won't honey," Harley replied. "I'll see you at noon."
Arnold left the building with Scarface and decided to sit on a park bench until he was ready to head to the harbor. The park was deserted.
"I've done everything for you!" Scarface yelled. "And this is how you repay me?"
"You've ruined my life!" Arnold retaliated. "You put me on this path."
"I gave you you're balls. I've protected you all your life. Now you're going to choose that psychotic whore over your only friend?"
"I'm choosing happiness over a life of crime."
Scarface chuckled. "You really think she'll give you happiness? You think she has any loyalty to you? Well I got news for you jackass! She doesn't!"
"What do you mean?" Arnold asked.
"They kept me upstairs in their bedroom. I heard them talk. The broad's not going anywhere. They're gonna meet you there and shoot your head off. It's a goddamn trap."
Arnold was speechless. He tried to convince himself that Scarface was not real, so he could be free of the puppet and move on with Harley. He wanted to believe everything she said.
"I don't believe you. You're lying."
"Dummy, you better stop giving me this attitude before I kill you first."
"No! You're not even real. You're all in my head."
"I'm more real than you are!" Scarface yelled in an angrier tone than Arnold has ever heard from him.
"You're not real! I'm going to the pier, and I'm gonna throw you into the river in front of Harley. I'm done with you!"
Arnold and Scarface exchanged no words for the next few hours. Shortly before noon, Arnold decided he was ready to head to the pier, so he walked there with Scarface. His stomach was in knots. He tried harder to convince himself that he was right and it would just be Harley waiting for him at the pier. Then he would throw Scarface in the water and live his happy life. Once he got to the pier, he saw exactly who was right.
