Proof involving integer squares and parity

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Original proposition:

$a$, $b$ and $c$ are integers. Show that if $a^2+b^2=c^2$, at least one of $a$ and $b$ is an even number.

My attempt:

Attemplting proof by contradiction:
Show that there exist a contradiction between the claim that $a^2+b^2=c^2$
...and $a=2k+1, b=2k+1$ where $a\in\mathbb{Z}$ and $a\in\mathbb{Z}$:

Or show: $$(2k+1)^2+(2l+1)^2\neq c^2$$

I converted the above to:

$$4(k^2+k+l^2+l)+2\neq c^2$$

Perhaps it is possible to show that $4(k^2+k+l^2+l)$ is a perfect square and hence $4(k^2+k+l^2+l)+2$ cannot be a perfect square?

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Assume by way of contradiction $a$ and $b$ are odd, as you say we get that $$4(k^2+k+l^2+l)+2=c^2.$$ We have that $c^2$ is even thus $c$ is even, so $c=2m$ for some $m$. We get $$4(k^2+k+l^2+l)+2=4m^2.$$ divide both sides by two: $$2(k^2+k+l^2+l)+1=2m^2$$

This is a contradiction since LHS is odd and RHS is even.