Why did Faith save Buffy

[Chosen Enemy]

I don't remember which episode it was in, I think it was "Consequences", Buffy went looking for Faith and found her at the docks. All of a sudden, a vampire attack! Led by Mr. Trick. He always bites Buffy, almost kills her, then Faith comes from behind and stakes him. She saves Buffy's life. However, later on, she approaches the Mayor and asks to replace Mr. Trick. She turned to the dark side.

Now, why would she save Buffy's life if a minute later she comes to join forces with the bad guy who wants to kill Buffy anyways? Why did she bother saving her? Why did she do a good thing and after that went to the evil side?

Any theories? I have mine, but I want to hear yours.

 

[xfivebyfive]

Well one theory is she wasn't saving Buffy but killing Trick so she could go work for the mayor.

I think she cared for Buffy, she cared about Buffy no matter how much hatred developed for her. I'm not even saying like love or in love, cause I don't ship them, but she did care about her. She didn't want to kill Buffy at first when she went to be with the Mayor.

 

[Ms.Trick]

That always confused me, and I think Faith was also very confused.

I think she was not ready for Buffy to die (or she wanted to take care of the kill?). I also think she didn't exactly know where was her place, where did she fit. She possibly went to the Mayor not knowing exactly what she wanted, and took a decision then. But I think the fact she stayed undercover for so long was not only under the Mayor's command, it was also because deep down, Faith kept hoping Buffy would accept her.

Hm. As I'm writting, I think Faith was in love with Buffy or at the least had a deep admiration for her and wanted to be more like her, and accepted, a part of the gang, and wanted Buffy's approval. She didn't have any of those, and with the Mayor, she gained a form of love and acceptation that she didn't have with Buffy.

To come back to the topic, Faith was at a point she was too different to fit with the Scoobies, and very confused about herself, so she maybe just wanted to try a different path. She didn't want Buffy to be dead, but she wanted to fit somewhere.
I think.

 

[PassionBecoming]

Obviously, Faith and Buffy are drawn to each other and have a special bond like no other people have. I think part of it was reflex, part kinship, and part confusion. Faith hadn't tipped all the way to the evil side at that point.

I have always wondered what happened right after they show Buffy rubbing her neck - it then goes to Faith showing up at the Mayor's office. Hmmm.

 

[Fusions2]

After she killed the Deputy Mayor she still had guilt about it but became very good at covering it up. She washed her hands of the incident or so it seemed but deep down she was probably quite scared of herself. When Faith rescued Buffy I think she knew she couldn't let her die. They share a bond and at the time Faith was still dangling on both sides before she finally couldn't handle feeling the guilt and went to work for the Mayor. Anything to rid of herself of going through her pain and emotions at the time.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

Ms.Trick agrees: I want to hear *well, read* your theory

Speculating here.... I have many ideas in my head, I'll share one.

Buffy and Faith sometimes seem to me like one person who has two sides - the bright side and the dark side, ying and yang, and they complete each other. So Faith sees Buffy as her. She saved her because she wants so save herself. She's scared that if she loses Buffy, she loses herself.

Other theories are things that have been said here.

 

[Willow My Love]

Faith looks up to Buffy. She's been the Slayer longer, and she knows what she's doing. The world needs Buffy, and I think Faith knew that. I think both Faith and Buffy wanted their friendship to work. They desperately wanted someone else who understood what they were going through. Thing is, Faith and Buffy were never meant to exist together.

Faith couldn't let Buffy die. If the world wasn't enough, Faith needed Buffy. She knew that in a real pinch, even if Buffy hated her, she'd save her too.

 

[BuffyElevated]

After she killed the Deputy Mayor she still had guilt about it but became very good at covering it up. She washed her hands of the incident or so it seemed but deep down she was probably quite scared of herself. When Faith rescued Buffy I think she knew she couldn't let her die. They share a bond and at the time Faith was still dangling on both sides before she finally couldn't handle feeling the guilt and went to work for the Mayor. Anything to rid of herself of going through her pain and emotions at the time.

Very well said!! I also think that a part of it was that Faith had to convince Buffy that she was still good, even though she was starting to feel that pull toward the dark side.

 

[sylvanscribe]

She never wanted Buffy dead. She wanted Buffy beaten and humiliated.

You see this in Season 4, when they switch bodies. Faith(in Buffy) is quite content to let Buffy(in Faith) be hauled away by the Watcher's Council, while she (Faith in Buffy) lives Buffy's life (friends, family, college education).

I think this goes back to what someone said about Buffy/Faith being Yin/Yang, but Faith wanted to reverse their respective positions.