My question then would be what was it that made you read that fic in the first place? Idle curiosity that led you to a good story, etc.? What was the original impetus to start reading? That's the part that's a puzzle to me, at least as regards fanfic. If I don't know an author in the bookstore, I might try their book if it looks interesting, but that doesn't work on fanfic - for me, anyway. If I'm not in the fandom, I have zero interest in the fic, even if it's recced to high heaven and even if it's by an author I love. For fanfic purposes, my mindset is different, and I want that familiar background.