That. Exactly that. And if Bruce was just a little better at emotional communication, he'd see that. It's not (or not primarily) about killing the Joker, it's about telling Jason that he's loved, and Bruce just fails utterly at realising it. All he sees is his principles being in jeopardy. And I'm fairly sure that's because he doesn't understand that Jason could ever doubt his love. Or Dick, for that matter. Bruce thinks his love for them must be as obvious and self-explanatory to them, as it is to him. Which it absolutely isn't, because he never showed it. Tragic vicious cycle.