Surprised by the hug, Bruce nonetheless returned it without hesitation. He may have had his misgivings about allowing Tim to become Robin when he'd first introduced the idea to him after Jason's death, but in the years since, Tim had become so much more than just a partner. Bruce had not exaggerated when he'd said he thought of Tim like one of his sons, and saying goodbye to him, even temporarily, was painful.
Bruce wondered if Alfred had felt this way when Bruce had left for M.I.T., not to return home till he was twenty-five, twelve years later.
He wouldn't push, but the offer would stand. Bruce could only hope that, like he had, when Tim was ready to come home again, he would.
Frowning thoughtfully over Tim's request for Stephanie, Bruce remained quiet for a moment. His feelings regarding Spoiler were... complicated, at best. Years ago, when he was first starting out as Batman, training with Ted Grant, and older vigilante had said to him 'You'd have to be crazy to do this job - no one should do it. But if you're going to do it, you might as well have the right skill.' That philosophy had become ingrained in him, and was reflected in how he treated other masked heroes who came into his city.
By and large, it was his opinion that most new capes should get out of the business and go home while they still had the chance, and this was the message he strove very hard to impart to them. If, like Tim, they were too stubborn to get the message, he did the next best thing; made sure they at least were skilled enough that they wouldn't get themselves killed out there.
Bruce had a lot of misgivings about Stephanie, but he also knew that they didn't matter. She'd proven that she wasn't going to give up, despite his warnings, and he himself had already started her on this road the night of the prom by sending her to help Tim. He didn't know that he trusted her, but he did know that she loved Tim, and would do anything to protect him, and his identity.
It was a start.
"I know you do," Bruce sighed. "You don't need to worry," he said. "I'll take care of her. I'll train her, just as long as she follows my rules, and if she doesn't..." he paused, the corner of his mouth twitching in the faint shadow of a smirk. "I'll have Cassie work with her. Either way, I'll keep and eye on her. She'll be safe."